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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 
UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

GEORGE OTIS SMITH, DIRECTOR 

Water-Supply Paper 228 



WATER-SUPPLY INVESTIGATIONS 

IN THE 

YUKON-TANANA REGION, ALASKA 

1907 AXB 1908 

FAIRBANKS, CIRCLE, AND RAMPART DISTRICTS 



BY 



C. (\ COVERT AND C. E. ELLSWORTH 




WASHINGTON 

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 

1909 



DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

GEORGE OTIS SMITH, Director 



Water-Supply Paper 228 



WATER-SUPPLY INVESTIGATIONS 



3^ 
3T3 



IN THE 



YUKON-TANANA REGION, ALASKA 



1907 AOT) 1908 



FAIRBANKS, CIRCLE, AND RAMPART DISTRICTS 



BY 



C. C. COVERT AND C. E. ELLSWORTH 




WASHINGTON 

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 
1909 






y^ or IL 



CONTENTS 



Fage. 

Introduction 7 

Scope of work 7 

Cooperation 9 

Explanation of data and methods 9 

General description of area 12 

Conditions affecting water supply 15 

General conditions ,. 15 

Melting of frozen ground 15 

Precipitation 17 

The Fairbanks district -^ 19 

Description of area 19 

Gaging stations 20 

Little Chena River drainage basin 22 

General description 22 

Little Chena River above Elliott Creek 23 

Little Chena River below Fish Creek 24 

Elliott Creek above Sorrels Creek 25 

Sorrels Creek 26 

Fish Creek above Fairbanks Creek 27 

Fish Creek at mouth 29 

Bear Creek 30 

Fairbanks Creek 30 

Miller Creek 30 

Chatanika River drainage basin 32 

General description 32 

Chatanika River near Faith Creek. 33 

Chatanika River below Poker Creek 34 

McManus Creek 36 

Faith Creek 38 

Kokomo Creek 39 

Poker Creek 39 

Cleary Creek 40 

Eldorado Creek 40 

Dome Creek 41 

Miscellaneous measurements 41 

Goldstream Creek drainage basin 42 

General description 42 

Goldstream Creek at claim 6 below 43 

Pedro Creek 44 

Fox Creek 44 

Washington Creek drainage basin 45 

General description 45 

Washington Creek above Aggie Creek 45 

Washington Creek below Aggie Creek 46 

Aggie Creek at mouth 48 

8 



4 CONTENTS. 

Tt).e Fairbanks district — Continued. Page. 

Beaver Creek drainage basin 49 

General description 49 

Measurements ... 50 

The Circle district 51 

Description of area 51 

Gaging stations 52 

Birch Creek drainage basin 53 

General description , 53 

Birch Creek at Fourteenmile House 53 

North Fork of Birch Creek - 54 

Harrison Creek 55 

Crooked Creek 56 

Mammoth Creek 56 

Porcupine Creek 57 

Boulder Creek 58 

Deadwood Creek 59 

The Rampart district 59 

Description of area 59 

Gaging stations 61 

Minook Creek drainage basin 62 

General description 62 

Minook Creek above Little Minook Creek 63 

Granite Creek 64 

Chapman Creek 64 

Slate Creek 65 

Ruby Creek 65 

Hoosier Creek 65 

Little Minook Junior Creek 66 

" Little Minook Creek 66 

Hunter Creek 68 

Miscellaneous measurements 69 

Troublesome Creek drainage basin , 69 

General description 69 

Troublesome Creek below Quail Creek 70 

Miscellaneous measurements 71 

Minor Yukon River drainage 71 

Russian Creek 71 

Squaw Creek 71 

West Fork of Tolovana River drainage basin 71 

Description 71 

Measurements 72 

Baker Creek drainage basin 72 

General description 72 

Baker Creek at road crossing 73 

Allen Creek 73 

New York Creek at Thanksgiving ditch intake 74 

California Creek at Thanksgiving ditch intake 75 

Thanksgiving ditch near outlet 76 

California Creek branch of Thanksgiving ditch near intake 77 

Eureka Creek 78 

Pioneer Creek 79 

Hutlinana Creek 80 

Miscellaneous measurements 82 



CONTENTS. 

The Rampart district — Continued. Page. 

Patterson Creek drainage basin .• 83 

Fiftymile River at "WTiite Horse 84 

Comparative discharge of different areas 84 

Hydraulic development 90 

Ditch and pipe lines in Alaska 90 

Fairbanks district 92 

General conditions 92 

Proposed ditch lines 93 

Water power 94 

Circle district 95 

General conditions 95 

Eagle Creek 95 

Porcupine Creek 95 

Rampart district 96 

General conditions 96 

• 

IVIinook Creek group 96 

General conditions 96 

Hunter Creek 97 

Little Minook Creek 97 

Hoosier Creek 97 

Baker Creek group 97 

General conditions 97 

T^Tiat Cheer Bar ditch 98 

Eiu-eka Creek 98 

Thanksgi\dng ditch 98 

Sullivan Creek ditch 98 

Water power for electric transmission 99 

Storage and conservation 101 

Index 105 



ILLUSTRATIONS. 



/ 



Page. 

Plate I. A, Price current meters; B, Measuring Grand Central River 10 

II'. Map showing location of gaging stations in Fairbanks district 20 

IIP. Mining operations on Cleary Creek 40 

IV, Map showing location of gaging stations in Circle district 52 

V!^, Map showing location of gaging stations in Rampart district 60 

VI. A, Hydraulicking on Eagle Creek; B, Hydraulic elevator on Hoosier 

^ Creek 94 

VII. A, Shoveling in on Thanksgiving Creek; B, Splash dam in operation 

on Little Minook Creek 96 

Figure 1. Index map showing location of quadrangles in Yukon-Tanana region. 13 

2. Diagram showing flows of Chatanika and Little Chena rivers 17 

3. Diagram showing mean weekly discharge in second-feet of streams 

in Yukon-Tanana region, 1908 , 85 



WATER-SUPPLY INVESTIGATIONS IN THE YUKON- 
TAMNA REGION, ALASKA, 1907 AND 1908. 



By C. C. Covert and C. E. Ellsworth. 



INTRODUCTION. 

SCOPE OF WORK. 

For a number of years the United States Geological Survey has 
made systematic measurements and studies of water supply as one 
of the great resources of the country. The data thus obtained are 
now available for many of the more important streams in the United 
States and are extensively used by engineers and others in problems 
involving water power, city water supply, irrigation, and manufac- 
turing. 

The development of the important placer-mining fields of Alaska, 
notably those of Seward Peninsula and the Yukon-Tanana region, 
is intimately associated with the successful utilization of their water 
supplies. A knowledge of the amount of water available in the 
streams would have prevented most of the failures that have been 
made in the past, and will be invaluable in connection with future 
development. 

A strong tendency exists in Alaskan development work to push 
forward the construction of ditches before making sure of that 
primary requisite of their successful operation — an adequate water 
supply. The results of such a policy were shown during the sum- 
mers of 1907 and 1908 in portions of the Yukon-Tanana region and in 
Seward Peninsula, where severe local droughts caused much loss and 
inconvenience to mining operators. As these conditions may not 
prove to be exceptional in any portion of the larger placer districts 
of Alaska, too much stress can not be laid on the importance of 
stream-flow data. Except during the low-water period, which ordi- 
narily lasts only a part of the season, the water supply is sufficient; 
but in combination with other unfavorable conditions — the short- 
ness of the season, the frozen ground, the distance from base of sup- 
plies, and the consequent high cost of transportation — a reduction of 
even two or three weeks in the working season may mean the differ- 
ence between profit and loss. 

7 



8 WATER IN YUKON-TAN AN A REGION, 1907-1908. 

Hydraulic developments are most advanced in the Nome region of 
Seward Peninsula, which has been an" important producer of placer 
gold since 1899, and in which hundreds of miles of mining ditches 
have been built at great expense. Similar developments proposed 
for the Yukon-Tanana region should now be given careful consid- 
eration. 

For this reason stream-measurement work, like that begun in the 
Nome region in 1906, was undertaken in the Yukon-Tanana region in 
1907 by C. C. Covert, who was in the field from June 18 to Sep- 
tember 23 of that year. During the season of 1908 the work was 
continued by Mr. Covert and C. E. Ellsworth. In March, 1908, 
Mr. Covert went to the Fairbanks district to gather data on the 
spring run-off from the melting snow, and later in the season he 
extended the work to the Circle and Rampart districts. In June 
Mr. Ellsworth and Mr. Covert met at Circle and made a reconnais- 
sance trip across country to Fairbanks. On August 1 Mr. Ellsworth 
went to the Rampart district, where he continued the work until 
the middle of September. Mr. Covert and the rest of the party 
remained in the Fairbanks district until the end of August, when 
they made the return trip to Circle, arriving there September 15. 
Much credit for the amount of data obtained and the extended ter- 
ritory which the party was able to cover is due to George Neuner, jr., 
field assistant, who made many of the measurements, and Charles E. 
Anderson, who acted as cook and packer. 

The work in the Yukon-Tanana region in 1907 was largely of a 
reconnaissance character, but a few regular gaging stations were 
established. In 1908 the work was continued along lines similar to 
those followed in the previous year, but the records cover a longer 
period (May 1 to October 15), and the area under investigation 
included about 4,200 square miles. Daily records were kept at a 
few regular stations established at convenient points in the different 
drainage basins, and miscellaneous measurements were made in the 
surrounding country. This plan afforded the best opportunities 
for procuring comparative data. In this region, where water storage 
is lacking, daily records are highly important, but are very difficult 
to obtain. Outside of the placer mining creeks the country is prac- 
tically a wilderness, where it is almost impossible to get observations 
other than those made during the occasional visits of the engineer. 
In some localities daily or even weekly records could not have been 
assured, and the results obtained from occasional measurements 
would have furnished no comprehensive idea of the daily run-oflF of 
the streams throughout the open season. 

The work of collecting the data and preparing this report was done 
under the direction of the water resources branch by the engineers 
detailed for the purpose. The expenses were paid out of the appro- 



EXPLANATION OF DATA AND METHODS. 9 

priation for investigating the mineral resources of Alaska, and the 
field work has been under the general supervision of Alfred H. 
Brooks, geologist in charge of Alaskan work. 

COOPERATION. 

The funds available for the work were inadequate for the thorough 
investigation of the region concerning which it was desirable to 
procure records. It was possible to obtain daily gage readings only 
through the cooperation of mining operators, ditch companies, and 
others. Special acknowledgment for such cooperation is due to 
Mr. John Zug, superintendent of the Good Roads Commission; 
Mr. C. W. McConaughy, chief engineer of the Chatanika Ditch 
Company; Mr. Falcon Joslin, president of the Tanana Valley Rail- 
road Company; Mr. Herman Wobber, Fairbanks Creek; Mr. Martin 
Harrais, Chena Lumber and Light Company, Chena; Mr. W. H. 
Parsons, general manager Washington- Alaska Bank; Mr. Frank G. 
Manley, Baker Hot Springs; Mr. A. V. Thorns, general ' manager 
Manley jMines; Mr. M. E. Koonce, Rampart; and to the many indi- 
vidual miners who are personally interested in the work. 

EXPLANATION OF DATA AND METHODS. 

The methods of carrying on the work and collecting the data were 
essentially the same as those previously used for similar work,^ but 
were adapted to the special conditions found in Alaska. 

In the consideration of industrial or mining enterprises which use 
the water of streams it is necessary to know the total amount of 
water flowing in the stream, the daily distribution of the flow, and 
facts in regard to the conditions affecting the flow. Several terms 
are used — such as second-foot, miner's inch, gallons per minute, etc. — 
to describe the quantity of water flowing in a stream, the one selected 
depending on the use to be made of the data. 

''Second-foot" is in most general use for-aU classes of work, and 
from it the quantity expressed in other terms may be obtained. It 
is an abbreviation of cubic foot per second, and may be defined as the 
quantity of water flowing per second in a stream 1 foot wide and 1 foot 
deep at the rate of 1 foot per second. It should be noted that it is a 
rate of flow, and to obtain the actual quantity of water it is necessary 
to multiply it by the time. 

''Second-feet per square mile" is the average number of cubic feet 
of water flowing per second from each square mfle of area drained, 
on the assumption that the run-off is distributed uniformly, as regards 
both time and area. 

''Run-off' in mches" is the depth to which the drainage area would 
be covered if all the water ffowing from it in a given period were con- 

oSee Water-Supply Papers U. S. Geol. Survey, Nos. 94, 95, and 201. 



10 WATER IN YUKON-TANANA REGION, 1907-1908. 

served and uniformly distributed on the surface. It is used for com- 
paring run-off with rainfall, which is expressed in depth in inches. 

"Acre-foot '' is equivalent to 43,560 cubic feet, and is the quantity 
required to cover an acre to the depth of 1 foot. It is commonly used 
in connection with storage problems. 

The ^'miner's inch," the unit used in connection with placer min- 
ing, also expresses a rate of flow, and is the quantity of water flowing 
through an orifice of a given size with a given head. The head and 
size of the orifice used in different localities vary, thus making it a 
most indefinite and unsatisfactory unit. Owing to the confusion 
arising-from its use it has been defined by law in several States. The 
California miner's inch is in most common use in the United States, 
and was defined by an act approved March 23, 1901 , as follows : ^ 'The 
standard miner's inch of water shall be equivalent or equal to 1 J cubic 
feet of water per minute, measured through any aperture or orifice.' 
This miner's inch corresponds to the so-called ''6-inch pressure," and 
is one-fortieth of a second-foot. 

A list of convenient equivalents for use in hydraulic computations 
is given below: 

1 second-foot equals 40 California miner's inches (law of March 23, 1901). 

1 second-foot equals 50 "old California" miner's inches (used prior to law of March 
23, 1901). 

1 second-foot equals 7.48 United States gallons per second; equals 448.8 gallons per 
minute; equals 646,272 gallons for one day. 

1 second-foot for one year covers 1 square mile 1.131 feet, or 13,572 inches deep. 

1 second-foot equals about 1 acre-inch per hour. 

1 second-foot for one day covers 1-square mile 0,03719 inch deep. 

1 second-foot for one day equals 1.983 acre-feet. 

100 California miner's inches equal 15.7 United States gallons per second, 

100 California miner's inches for one day equal 4.96 acre-feet. 

100 United States gallons per minute equal 0.223 second-foot. 

100 United States gallons per minute for one day equal 0.442 acre-foot, 

1,000,000 United States gallons per day equal 1.55 second-feet. 

1,000,000 United States gallons equal 3.07 acre-feet. 

1,000,000 cubic feet equal 22.95 acre-feet. 

1 acre-foot equals 325,850 gallons. 

1 inch deep on 1 square mile equals 2,323,200 cubic feet. 

1 inch deep on 1 square mile equals 0.0737 eecond-foot per year, 

1 mile equals 5,280 feet. 

1 acre equals 43,560 square feet. 

1 acre equals 209 feet square, nearly. 

1 cubic foot equals 7.48 gallons. 

1 cubic foot of water weighs 62.5 pounds. 

1 horsepower equals 550 foot-pounds per second. 

1 horsepower equals 746 watts, 

1 horsepower equals 1 second-foot falling 8.80 feet. 

1 J horsepower equals about 1 kilowatt. 

To calculate water power quickly: — ^— y:j =net horsepower on water- 
wheel realizing 80 per cent of theoretical power. 




=; 



-*?# 




EXPLANATION OF DATA AND METHODS. 11 

The determination of the quantity of water flowing past a certain 
section of a stream at a given time is termed a '' discharge measure- 
ment." The quantity is the product of two factors — the mean veloc- 
ity and the area of the cross section. The mean velocity is a function 
of surface slope, wetted perimeter, roughness of bed, and the channel 
conditions at, above, and below the gaging section. The area depends 
on the contour of the bed and the fluctuations of the surface. The 
two principal ways of measuring the velocity of a stream are by floats 
and current meters. 

All measurements by the engineers of the Survey were made with 
the current meter; but as float measurements can readily be made by 
the prospector the method is described below. 

The floats in common use are the surface, subsurface, and tube or 
rod floats. A corked bottle with a flag in the top and weighted at the 
bottom makes one of the most satisfactory surface floats, as it is 
affected but little by wind. In flood measurements good results can 
be obtained by observing tiie velocity of floating cakes of ice or debris. 
In all surface-float measurements the observed velocity must be mul- 
tiplied by 0.85 to 0.90 to reduce it to the mean velocity. The subsur- 
face and tube or rod floats are intended to give directly the mean 
velocity in the vertical. Tubes give excellent results when the chan- 
nel conditions are good, as in canals. 

In measuring velocity by a float, observation is made of the time 
taken by the float to pass over the ''run" — a selected stretch of river 
from 50 to 200 feet long. In each discharge measurement a large 
number of velocity determinations are made at different points 
across the stream, and from these observations the mean velocity 
for the whole section is determined. 

The area used in float measurements is the mean of the areas at 
the two ends of the run and at several intermediate sections. 

The essential parts of the current meters in use are (1) a wheel 
of some type so constructed that the impact of flowing water causes 
it to revolve and (2) a device for recording or indicating the number 
of revolutions. The relation between the velocity of the moving 
water and the revolutions of the wheel is determined for each meter. 
This rating is done by drawing the meter through still water for a 
given distance at different speeds and noting the number of revolu- 
tions for eacji run. From these data a rating table is prepared, 
which gives the velocity per second for any number of revolutions. 
Many kinds of current meters have been constructed. 

The small Price acoustic meter (PI. I, A) was used exclusively in 
the work in Alaska. Measurements were made by wading, except 
on Chatanika River near Faith Creek and Little Chena River below 
mouth of Fish Creek, where a cable and car were installed for use 
during high stages, and on Birch Creek at Fourteenmile House, 
where the government ferry was utilized. 



12 WATER IN YUKON-TANANA REGION, 1907-1908. 

In making a measurement a tape line is stretched across the stream 
(PI. I, B) and depth and velocity are measured at regular intervals 
(1 foot to 5 feet, depending on the size of the stream). The depths 
from which the area of the cross section is computed are taken by 
soundings with a graduated rod. The velocities are measured by a 
current meter. 

Two methods of measuring the velocity were used. In the first 
the meter is held at the depth of the thread of mean velocity, which 
has been shown by extensive experiments to occur at about 0.6 
of the total depth. In the second method the mean of the velocities 
taken at 0.2 and 0.8 depth is used. This method is not adapted 
to very shallow streams or to those with extremely rough beds. 

One of the general laws of the flow of streams with permanent 
cross sections is that the discharge varies directly with the stage 
of the water, or the gage height, and that it will be the same when- 
ever the stage or gage height is the same. Therefore, in order to 
determine the daily discharge of a stream, a gage on which the 
fluctuations of the surface of the stream may be noted is installed 
and read daily. As the discharge regularly increases with the 
stage, it is possible with a few discharge measurements taken at 
various stages to construct a rating curve which will give the dis- 
charge at all stages. The beds of most of the streams measured 
changed but little during the season and it was therefore possible to 
obtain the daily flow, as just stated. 

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF AREA. 

The section of Alaska lying between the Yukon and Tanana rivers 
and reaching from their confluence to the international boundary, 
about 300 miles to the east, is known as the Yukon-Tanana region. 
It embraces about 40,000 square miles, of which about 4,200 are 
considered in this report. The gold placers of the Fortymile, Birch 
Creek, Rampart, and Fairbanks districts are situated in this region, 
and their economic importance has led the Geological Survey to devote 
several years to the work of making topographic and geologic maps 
of the area, and, in 1907 and 1908, to make a study of the water sup- 
ply of a portion of the territory covered by the Circle, Fairbanks, 
and Rampart quadrangles. The location of the quadrangles surveyed 
in the Yukon-Tanana region and of the quadrangles in which lie the 
drainage areas of the streams studied is shown in the index map, 
figure 1. 

Gold was discovered in the Fortymile district in 1886 and in the 
Birch Creek and Rampart districts in 1893, but not until the discov- 
eries in the Klondike in 1896 did the rapid development of the 
interior of Alaska begin and Circle and Rampart become supply 
points for the mining camps along the Yukon. The Fairbanks dis- 



i 



GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF AREA. 



13 



trict was brought into prominence by the discoveries in 1902, and it 
has since become the largest placer mining district in Alaska. The 
chief topographic features of the country, the absence of any well- 
defined divide separating the Yukon-Tanana drainages, and the 
irregular arrangement of the streams that make up the drainage sys- 
tems of this region are clearly shown on the pubHshed maps (see 
Rg. 1) which, except the Fortymile, are issued with bulletins'* only. 




Rampart quadrangle Fairbanks quadrangle Circle quadranglel Fortymile quadrangle 

Figure 1. — Index map showing location of quadrangles in Yukon-Tanana region. 

These drainage systems hold remarkably close relations. The 
headwaters of the larger streams interlock with one another, their 
numerous ramifying branches taking so many different directions 
that the traveler, unless provided with maps and compass, is often 
led astray by the similar even-topped ridges that separate the drain- 

a Prindle, L. M., The gofd placers of the Fortymile, Birch Creek, and Fairbanks regions: Bull. U. S. 
Geol. Survey No. 251, 1905. 

Topographic map, Fortymile quadrangle; scale, 1:250000; by E. C. Barnard, U. S. Geol. Survey, 1905. 
For sale at 5 cents a copy or $3 a hundred. 

Prindle, L. M., The Yukon-Tanana region, Alaska; description of the Circle quadrangle: Bull. XJ. S. 
Geol. Survey No. 295, 1906. 

Prindle, L. M., Hess, F. L., and Covert, C. C, The Yukon-Tanana region, Alaska; description of the 
Fairbanks and Rampart quadrangles: Bull. U. S. Geol. Survey No. 337, 1908. 



14 WATER IN YUKON-TANANA REGION, 1907-1908. 

ages of the headwaters of perhaps three or four different streams, 
which radiate from som.e one point, but belong to different drainage 
areas. 

The most important streams tributary to the Yukon are Fortymile 
and Seventymile creeks, Charley River, and Birch and Beaver creeks ; 
those tributary to the Tanana are the Volkmar, Goodpaster, Salcha, 
Chena, and Tolovna rivers. Besides these major streams many 
small tributaries, such as Minook and Baker creeks, are important, 
because they are the sites of large mining operations. 

The entire area except the higher ridges was once well timbered, 
but the forests are fast disappearing before the woodman's ax and 
forest fires — a fact most deplorable for the future of the country. 

The climate and vegetation of the Yukon-Tan ana region have 
been described by Prindle ^ as follows : 

The temperature has a wide range of variation. Temperatures below 80° F. below 
zero have been reported, and those 90° or more above zero are not uncommon. The 
extreme continued cold of winter leaves so deep an impress that the streams become 
covered with a layer of ice 6 feet thick, which in places lingers till late in summer, 
and the ground remains for the most part permanently frozen. The long days of 
summer, often very warm, soon mantle with green luxuriance much of the deeply 
frozen surface, and the shadows of the ice-scarred spruces along the river banks 
become enlivened with patches of grass or glow with brilliant fire weed and clumps 
of roses. This extreme differentiation of the seasons entails much change in mode 
of living and methods of transportation, and the times at which the gradual change 
takes place from summer to winter and winter to summer are therefore the most 
important climatic periods of the year. The Yukon at Circle closes about the mid- 
dle of October, soon after the mush ice begins to run, and opens again about the 
middle of May, when the breaking of the ice emphasizes most dramatically the 
advent of the open season. 

While the winters are in general similar in their essential characteristics, the sum- 
mers vary greatly in temperature and rainfall. Some of them are characterized by 
long periods of beautiful weather with many days of great heat during June and 
July and the early part of August. The occasional thunderstorms or rainy days 
furnish insufficient water to meet the demands of mining, and work is thus fre- 
quently brought almost to a standstill. In other seasons thunderstorms may be of 
almost daily occurrence for several weeks. A third season may be unusually wet 
with frequent cold rains accompanied by snow in the higher hills. 

The snowfall is generally light, and the total precipitation is much less than that 
of the southeast coast. The lowlands are comparatively free from frost during the 
latter part of June and the months of July and August, and ordinarily mining can be 
carried on from the middle of June to the middle of September, and in a favorable 
season may be continued much longer. 

It should be added that the region is characterized by wide local 
variations in rainfall during the summer months. 

Transportation facilities are of vital importance to the future 
development of this region. During the open season, from June to 
October, steamers ply up and down the Yukon; during the winter 

a Prindle, L. M., The Yukon-Tanana region Alaska; description of the Circle quadrangle: Bull. U. S. 
Geol. Survey No. 295, 1906. 



CONDITIONS AFFECTING WATER SUPPLY. 15 

travelers must follow the trails from Valdez or White Horse. While 
travel, either in winter or summer, is so slow, tedious, and expensive, 
development on a large scale will require enormous expenditures of 
both time and money; and the region can not be economically and 
completely developed until it can be reached by rail from the seacoast 
towns. Most of the mining camps using Fairbanks for their base of 
supplies are readily reached by either steam or wagon road, or both. 
From Circle, Rampart, and the other supply points the camps are 
reached by wagon or pack train over trails that are difficult, especially 
in wet weather. 

The Alaska Road Commission is doing much to facilitate develop- 
ment by constructing wagon roads which make it feasible to deliver 
the heavy machinery that is absolutely essential to the economic 
working of the mines and that can not be handled by pack trains. 

CONDITIONS AFFECTING WATER SUPPLY. 
GENERAL CONDITIONS. 

Water for mining purposes in the Yukon-Tanana region is drawn 
entirely from the normal flow of the streams at the point of supply. 
During the sluicing period, which usually extends from about May 
20 to wSeptember 10, the daily flow is derived from three sources — 
the slow melting of snow and ice accumulated chiefly in the form of 
''winter glaciers" at the heads of the streams, the melting of ground 
ice and frozen earth, and the summer rains. Very little of the sno\\ 
melts and runs off before the spring break-up, which in this district 
begins about the middle of April. The winter run-off, especially in 
the upper basins, accumulates with the ice and snow in the stream 
beds. The rise in the streams begins about the middle of May and 
continues intermittently until about May 30, when the maximum 
discharge occurs, but ice and snow do not entirely disappear before 
the middle or last of July. Mr. A. D. Gassaway, of the Chatanika 
Ditch Company, estimated the maximum flow of Chatanika River 
near the mouth of Faith Creek at about 1,250 second-feet in 1907, 
and stated that this discharge occurred about May 30. After that 
date the flow gradually decreased until the minimum stage was 
reached, about July 10. In 1908 the maximum discharge occurred 
from May 20 to 25, and was about 1,340 second-feet, while the mini- 
mum discharge of 82 second- feet was recorded July 20 and 21. 

MELTING OF FROZEN GROUND. 

The melting of frozen ground affords a slight additional supply of 
water to the streams. On the northern slopes and in the deep can- 
yons which are protected from the rays of the sun, the ground never 
thaws more than a few inches, even during July and August, when the 



16 



WATER IN YUKON-TANANA REGION, 1907-1908. 



sun shines nearly twenty-four hours a day; but on the southern 
slopes and in the lowlands the imprisoned moisture is liberated 
through the combined influence of abundant sunshine and occasional 
warm rains. This gradual thawing of the frozen ground serves to 
increase the minimum flow during a low-water period, as in the season 
of 1908. (See fig. 3, p. 85.) The only natural storage for rainfall in 
this country is that afforded by the ubiquitous moss, which absorbs 
much of the moisture that otherwise would quickly pass beyond use, 
and distributes the melting of the ground ice over a longer period; 
but, on the other hand, to a certain extent, it prevents the ground 
from thawing during the summer and thus does away with any nat- 
ural underground storage. This covering is saturated from ground 
thaw, and consequently any rainfall flows off the steep slopes very 
quickly and finds its way to the streams, causing them to rise and fall 
rapidly. (See fig. 2.) Because of this lack of ground storage the 
streams depend largely on rainfall for their supply after the snow and 
ice have disappeared in the spring break-up. 

PRECIPITATION. 



Precipitation records kept at Fairbanks since 1905 show that snow- 
fall in this section amounts to about 40 inches. In connection with 
its investigations of stream flow the Geological Survey established 
four precipitation stations in the Yukon-Tanana region in 1907 and 
three in 1908. All records are kept by voluntary observers. The 
names and locations of these stations, the names of observers, and the 
dates of establishment are given in the following table: 

Rainfall stations in Yukon-Tanana region. 





Letter 
on Pis. 
II, IV, 

and V. 


Lati- 
tude. 


Longi- 
tude. 


Elevation in 
feet- 


Observer. 


Date estab- 
lished. 


Station. 


Above 

sea 
level. 


Above 
ground. 


Baker Hot Springs. . 

Charity Creek 

Cleary 


T 
N 
K 
R 
M 
L 
H 


64° 58' 
65° 24' 
65° 05' 
65° 26' 
65° 17' 
65° 08' 
65° 02' 


150° 40' 
140° 16' 
147° 20' 
145° 27' 
146° 2.3' 
147° 28' 
147° 26' 


370 
2,800 
1,000 
2,590 
1,400 

750 
2,310 


3 
3 
4 
3 
4 
5 
3 


v. L. Bevington .. 

H. R. Burke 

Charles Sinclair. . . 

A. R. Garner 

M. T. Kerrick 

G. M. Sabean 

Mrs. Annie M. 
Walsh. 


Aug. 5, 1908 
June 25,1907 


Eagle Creek 

Faith Creek 

Poker Creek 

Summit Roadhouse 


July 7, 1908 
July 1, 1907 
Aug. 3, 1907 
July 3, 1907 



The table following gives the monthly precipitation at points in 
the Yukon-Tanana region for 1907 and 1908. Records for earlier years 
have been given by Abbe*^ and by the writer in a previous report.^ 

a Abbe, Cleveland, jr.. Geography and geology of Alaska: Prof. Paper U. S. Geol. Survey No. 45, 1906, 
pp. 189-200. 

b Henshaw, F. F., and Covert, C. C, Water-supply investigations in Alaska, 1906-1907: Water-Supply 
Paper U. S. Geol. Survey No. 218, 1908, pp. 139-149. 



CONDITIONS AFFECTING WATER SUPPLY. 



17 



Second-feet 




Ram fa ft finches and huncfrecfthsj 



81007— iRR 228—09- 



18 WATER IN YUKON-TAN ANA REGION, 1907-1908. 

Monthly precipitation, in inches, at stations in Yukon- Tanana region, 1907-1908. 
[Rainfall or melted snow is given in the first line; snowfall in the second line.] 





Jan, 


Feb. 


Mar. 


Apr. 


May. 


June. 


July. 


Aug. 


Sept. 


Oct. 


Nov. 


Dec. 


An- 
nual. 


Baker Hot Springs, 


f 


















0.41 
4.1 


0.20 
2.0 






1908 


\ 
























f 1.02 
\8.5 
/ 1.23 
t 9.2 


6.57 
7.8 
.25 
2.5 


0.28 

3.25 

.76 

6.75 


0.15 


0.29 




1.3G 


2.79 


1.73 


0.63 
8.2 




Circle, 1907 












piroio ions 


1.45 
8.0 
.11 


.29 


0.20 


.87 


1.08 


2.21 


.40 
3.0 

.20 
3.0 


.75 
8.5 












.27 


1.33 


2.80 


2.33 


2.28 






Charity Creek, 1908 . . 


"j 












Cleary, 1907 












.84 


2.55 


2.88 
2.99 
1.81 


3.82 








Eagle Creek, 1908 




















Fairbanks, 1907 


f 3.30 
\33.0 
f .42 
\4.2 


.86 
8.6 

.21 
2.1 


2.42 
24.2 

1.1 
11.0 


.03 

.3 

.11 

.8 


.35 


1.47 


1.51 


3.58 


2.44 
24.4 
.47 


.35 
3.5 

.SI 
4.0 


.59 
5.9 


18. ii 
99 9 


Fairbanks, 1908 


.52 


.96 


.73 


.71 


.15 
1.53 
2.97 
1.45 








Faith Creek, 1907.... 






1.87 
1.48 


3.00 
1.98 






Fort Egbert, 1907.... 


f 1.45 
1 2.0 
j .12 
1 3.0 
f 1.26 
112.6 
/ .23 
I 4.0 
f .12 
1 2.0 

r 


.21 
2.0 

.25 
2.5 

'".'26 
6.0 
.20 
3.0 



.75 
7.5 

.75 
7.5 

.53 
5.0 

.90 
17.0 

.27 
4.0 

.41 
5.0 

.27 
3.0 


.25 
.15 
.10 

1.0 




.40 
.55 


1.89 


1.12 
13.0 

.18 
6.0 
1.22 
12.0 

.45 
6.0 

.72 
9.0 


.40 
4.0 

.82 
7.0 

.03 
1.5 










Fort Egbert, 1908. . . . 


2.16 


2.47 


1.02 


1.48 










Fort Gibbon, 1907... 


.30 




2.58 


2.31 


2.32 
4.00 
1.60 
2.25 
.49 










Fort Gibbon, 1908... 




Tr. 


1.16 




.96 


1.13 












Kechumstuk, 1907. . . 


1.30 
12.0 


2.30 


1.60 


2.14 


.40 
4.0 










Kechumstuk, 1908. . . 


.46' 1.78 


1.77 


2.30 


2.22 


i.35 






4.0 
Tr. 












North Fork, 1907 . . . 


/ .09 
115. 5 
i .50 
15.0 


.28 
3.0 


1.34 
4.0 


1.92 


1.57 


3.19 


2.66 
5.0 


1.40 
12.0 


.26 
2.0 










North Fork, 1908 . . . 












Tr. 
























Poker Creek, 1907.... 












1.40 


3.70 


1.70 
24.0 

.75 
6.9 

.65 


.25 
3.3 


1.07 
6.8 




1 
















Poker Creek, 1908 


112.0 
1 1.08 
111. 5 


1.32 
10.5 

.44 
4.5 

.52 
6.9 


"i'.ii 
12.8 

.81 
8.1 


.42 
5.0 

.02 
2.5 

.58 


.58 


1.80 


2.02 


.99 


2.45 

4.5 

2.52 










Rampart, 1907 


.44 


1.64 


2.29 


3.38 


.55 
6.3 










Rampart, 1908 


.82 


1.38 


1.13 


.46 


i.56 


.39 
5.1 












Summit Roadhouse, 
1907 








2.71 


3.27 


«3.33 































a September 1-22. 



Precipitation records for May to August, inclusive, at rarious 
points in the Yukon-Tanana region, may be summarized as follows: 

Summary of precipitation in Yukon- Tanana region. 



Station. 


Maximum. 


Minimum. 


Mean. 


Duration of 


Inches. 


Year. 


Inches. 


Year. 


Inches. 


records. 


Fairbanks 


5.73 
4.15 
7.75 
6.31 
10.26 
9.06 


1906 
1907 
1907 
1908 
1905 
1906 


2.92 
2.44 
3.79 
4.87 
3.30 
3.66 


1908 
1908 
1908 
1906 
1904 
1905 


4.60 
3.30 
5.58 
5.75 
5.76 
6.73 


1906-1908 


Circle 


1907-1908 


Rampart 


1905-1908 


Fort Egbert 


1903, 1905-1908 


Fort Gibbon 


1903-1908 


Kechumstuk 


1904-1908 







The table above shows that a total precipitation as high as 10.26 
inches and as low as 2.44 inches has occurred during the mining 
season. 

A comparison of the records of rainfall in 1907 throughout Alaska 
with records previously obtained shows that the season was nearly 



THE FAIKBANKS DISTRICT. 19 

normal, especially in the interior; but the records of 1908 indicate 
that in the Fairbanks, Circle, and Rampart precincts, except in a 
small area at the head of Chatanika, Twelvemile, and Preacher 
creeks the precipitation was below the normal, while in Kechumstuk 
and Fort Egbert it was somewhat above the usual amount. 

May, June, and July are invariably months of slight rainfall in the 
interior, and the streams soon reach a ver}^ low stage. Yet this is 
the most important period for the miner. The long hours of daylight 
and the warm weather afford favorable opportunities for mining and 
sluicing, but the abundant supply of water needed for this purpose 
is often lacking. 

THE FAIRBANKS DISTRICT. 

DESCRIPTION OF AREA. 

The area known as the Fairbanks district extends about 60 miles 
to the north of Fairbanks and is from 40 to 50 miles wide. The 
greater part of the region lies in the lower Tanana basin, but a portion 
to the northwest drains directly to the Yukon. Generally speaking, 
the district embraces three divisions — a low, broad, alluvial plain, a 
moderately high plateau, and a mountain mass. 

The low, broad plain forms the bottom lands of the lower Tanana 
Valley, which in this section is divided into several parts by the 
Tanana and its sloughlike channels. The main slough starts near 
the mouth of Salcha River, about 30 miles above Fairbanks, where 
it diverts a portion of the Tanana waters. Its course is along the 
foothills of the pleateau to the north, and it receives Chena River 
about 7 miles above Fairbanks. The plain is swampy and is well 
covered with timber along the banks of the streams. In the vicinity 
of Fairbanks it has a general elevation of about 500 feet above sea 
level. 

The plateau is drained by streams tributary to Tanana River, 
which flow through rather broad, unsymmetrical valleys, most of 
which extend in a northeast-southwest direction. Their bottom 
lands range in elevation from 500 to over 2,000 feet above sea level, 
and the dividing ridges are in general 2,000 to 3,000 feet above the 
stream beds. That portion of the plateau which comes under dis- 
cussion in this report is drained principally by Little Chena and 
Chatanika rivers. The upper region of these drainage basins is 
crosscut by a zigzag range, which separates the Yukon from the 
Tanana drainage. " 

The mountain mass north of this plateau forms what might be 
termed the apex of the divide between the Tanana and the Yukon 
drainage basins. Its highest points reach, altitudes 4,000 to 5,000 
feet above sea level, and its corrugated slopes are drained principally 
by tributaries to Yukon River. 



20 WATEK IN YUKON-TANANA REGION, 1907-1908. 



All drainage areas tributary to the Tanana are similar in character. 
The streams have little slope except near their source and flow over 
wide gravelly beds in shifting and tortuous courses, keeping to one 
side of the valley. Most of the channels have rather steep banks that 
form approaches to broad, level bottom lands which extend 1,000 to 
4,000 feet or more before they meet the abrupt slopes of the dividing 
ridges. The drainage basins are 4 to 15 miles wide and are cut up by 
small tributary streams that flow through deep and narrow ravines. 

A large portion of the area is covered with a thick turf, known as 
tundra, which is wet, spongy, and mossy, and ranges in thickness from 
6 inches to 2 feet. In some localities this is meadow-like, producing 
a rank growth of grass and a variety of beautiful wild flowers. Ground 
ice is found beneath this tundra in many places, particularly on the 
northern slopes, where the scanty soil supports little timber or other 
vegetation. The soil of the southern slopes is, for the most part, 
gravelly clay, underlain by a mica schist which affords suitable ground 
for ditch construction. When stripped of its mossy covering and ex- 
posed to the sun it thaws rapidly, so that the plow and scraper can 
be used to advantage. 

Above altitudes of 2,000 to 2,200 feet practically the only vege- 
tation is a scrubby, bushy growth which attains a height of 2 to 4 
feet. In general the country below this altitude is timbered by spruce 
and birch, with scattered patches of tamarack and willow along the 
banks of the smaller streams. The timber increases in density and 
size toward the river bottoms, where the prevailing growth is spruce, 
much of which attains a diameter of 18 to 24 inches. 

The Fairbanks mining district lies between Little Chena and Chata- 
nika rivers. It embraces an area of about 500 square miles and ex- 
tends 30 miles north of Fairbanks, which is situated on Chena Slough 
nearly. 12 miles above its confluence with the Tanana. Most of the 
producing creeks rise in a high rocky ridge, of which Pedro Dome, 
with an elevation of about 2,500 feet, is the center. At least half of 
the mines are located at an elevation of over 800 feet, and 25 per cent 
are over 1,000 feet above sea level. 

GAGING STATIONS. 

The following list gives the points in the Fairbanks district at 
which gages were established or discharge measurements made in 
1907 or 1908. The numbers refer to Plate II: 

Gaging stations in Fairbanks district, 1907-1908. 

1. Little Chena River above Elliott Creek. 

2. Little Chena River below Fish Creek. 

3. Elliott Creek above Sorrels Creek. 

4. Sorrels Creek near mouth . 

5. Fish Creek above Fairbanks Creek. 

6. Fish Creek at mouth. 



U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 



WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 228 PLATE !l 




U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 




MAP SHOWING LOCATION OF GAGING STATIONS IN FAIRBANKS DISTRICT. 



THE FAIRBANKS DISTRICT. 21 



7. Bear Creek below Tecumseh Creek, 

8. Fairbanks Creek. 

9. Miller Creek above Heim Creek. 

10. Miller Creek below Heim Creek. 

11. Miller Creek near mouth. 

12. Chatanika River near Faith Creek. 

13. Chatanika River below Poker Creek. 

14. Chatanika River below Murphy Creek. 

15. McManus Creek above Montana Creek. 

16. McManus Creek below Montana Creek. 

17. McManus Creek below Idaho Creek. 

18. McManus Creek above Smith Creek. 

19. McManus Creek near mouth. 

20. Smith Creek above Pool Creek. 

21. Smith Creek near mouth. 

22. Pool Creek near mouth. 

23. Faith Creek near mouth. 

24. Hope Creek near Zephyr Creek. 

25. Charity Creek near mouth. 

26. Sourdough Creek near mouth. 

27. Flat Creek below 3d Pup. 

28. Boston Creek at elevation 800 feet. 

29. McKay Creek at elevation 800 feet. 

30. Belle Creek at elevation 1,200 feet. 

31. Belle Creek at elevation 800 feet. 

32. Crooked Creek near mouth. 

33. Kokomo Creek near mouth. 

34. Poker Creek at elevation 800 feet. 

35. Poker Creek near mouth. 

36. Caribou Creek above Little Poker Creek. 

37. Little Poker Creek near mouth. 

38. Cleary Creek above Wolf Creek. 

39. Cleary Creek near Cleary. 

40. Chatham Creek at mouth. 

41. Wolf Creek at mouth. 

42. Eldorado Creek above trail. 

43. Dome Creek near Dome. 

44. Murphy Creek above McCloud Creek. 

45. Goldstream Creek near claim 6 below. 

46. Pedro Creek at claim 1 above. 

47. Fox Creek at elevation 900 feet, 

48. Washington Creek above Aggie Creek. 

49. Washington Creek below Aggie Creek. 

50. Aggie Creek at mouth, 

51. Beaver Creek above East Branch. 

52. Beaver Creek above Nome Creek. 

53. East Branch of Beaver Creek near mouth. 

54. Nome Creek above Ophir Creek. 

55. Nome Creek near mouth. 

56. Ophir Creek at mouth. 

57. Bryan Creek at elevation 1,800 feet. 

58. Trail Creek 4 miles above mouth. 

59. Brigham Creek near mouth. 

60. Fossil Creek near mouth. 



22 WATEK IN YUKON-TAN ANA REGION, 1907-1908. 

LITTLE CHENA RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 
GENERAL DESCRIPTION. 

The southern slope of the divide between the Chatanika and Chena 
drainage basins, from the headwaters of Smith and Flat creeks to 
Pedro Dome, a distance of about 25 miles, is drained by Little Chena 
River and its tributaries, Elliott and Fish creeks. The drainage basin 
is irregular in shape and crossed by a network of small, ramifying 
streams with precipitous slopes in their upper courses. The upper 
portion of the main stream is also steep, having a fall of 100 to 150 
feet to the mile, but this slope decreases rather abruptly to about 18 
feet to the mile in the vicinity of Elliott and Fish creeks. 

Above Fish Creek the Little Chena flows tlu"ough a rather broad, 
unsymmetrical valley, but below that stream it takes the center of a 
deep, rather narrow channel for about 8 miles, to Anaconda Creek, an 
important tributary which enters from the left. Below this point the 
valley gradually widens again until the stream reaches the lowlands 
tributary to Chena River, with which it unites 6 or 8 miles above the 
confluence of Chena Slough. Through this slough the Chena dis- 
charges its waters into the Tanana near the town of Chena. The 
slough affords a passageway for the Tanana steamers from its fnouth 
to Fairbanks, 12 miles above, except in times of low water, when the 
cargoes are transferred at Chena to the Tanana Valley Railroad. 

In the low-water period the stream occupies a channel 30 to 75 feet 
wide, crossing from side to side of a broad, gravelly bed ranging in 
width from 100 to 300 feet. The channel is defined by steep, alluvial 
banks that form the approach to the heavily timbered bottom lands 
which prevail in the river valley above the confluence of Fish Creek. 
In the high-water stages the river completely fills its broad bed, over- 
flowing the banks and seeking numerous smaller channels that sur- 
round heavily wooded islands. 

The greater part of the drainage basin is well covered with timber, 
that in the uplands, on the slopes and smaller divides, consisting of 
spruce, birch, and poplar, suitable only for fuel and cabin purposes. 
In the lower valleys and creek bottom lands the prevailing growth is 
spruce, much of which is suitable for milling purposes. 

The area is everywhere covered with the common moss, but here 
and there limestones, mica schist, and gravel outcrop on the slopes. 
In the creek valleys the mossy covering is usually underlain with 
frozen muck and glacial ice. The numerous swamp areas near the 
river banks and the heavy growth of timber make travel very diflicult. 

In 1907 gaging stations were established on Elliott Creek above 
Sorrels Creek, on Sorrels Creek above its mouth, on Fish Creek above 
Fairbanks Creek, and on the Little Chena about 2 miles above Elliott 



THE FAIRBANKS DISTRICT. 



23 



Creek, and in 1908 additional stations were established on Little 
Chena below Fish Creek, on Fish Creek at its mouth, and on Miller 
Creek at mouth. Much credit is due Sherman White, the observer, 
for his faithful work in making approximately daily observations at 
each of these stations. 

Drainage areas of Little Chena River hasin.<^ 



Stream and location. 



Area. 



Little Chena River above gaging station 

Little Chena River from gaging station to mouth of Elliott Creek 

Elliott Creek above gaging station 

Sorrels Creek above gaging station 

Elliott Creek from gaging station to mouth , 

Total Elliott Creek 

Little Chena River from mouth of Elliott to Fish Creek 

Fish Creek above Bear Creek 

Bear Creek alcove mouth 

Fish Creek from Bear Creek to gaging station 

Fish Creek above gaging station " 

Fairbanks Creek above mouth 

Fish Creek, Fairbanks Creek to Miller Creek 

Miller Creek above mouth 

Fish Creek from Miller Creek to mouth 

Total Fish Creek 

Little Chena from mouth of Fish Creek to Anaconda Creek 

Anaconda Creek above mouth 

Little Chena from Anaconda Creek to mouth 



Sq. 



miles. 
79.0 

3.G 
13.8 
2L0 

3.8 
38.6 

6.0 
23.0 
12.0 

3.6 
39.2 
20.5 
13.0 
16.7 
.8 
90.2 
30.7 
43.3 
113.2 



Total 
area. 



Sq. miles, 
79.0 
82.6 



121.2 

127.2 



217.4 
248.1 
291.4 
404 6 



a From reconnaissance map Yukon-Tanana region, Fairbanks quadrangle. 
LITTLE CHENA RIVER ABOVE ELLIOTT CREEK. 

A gaging station was established on Little Chena Eiver about 2 
miles above Elliott Creek, July 22, 1907. At this point the channel 
is from 30 to 50 feet wide during low and medium stages. It has a 
gravelly bed and is fairly straight for about 100 feet. A stake gradu- 
ated to feet and tenths was driven near the left side and daily readings 
were taken. 

Discharge measurements of Little Chena River above Elliott Creek, 1907-1908. 



Date. 



Gage 
height. 



1907. Feet. 

July 22 i 0. 60 

July24 i .56 

August 4 1.10 

August 5 ' 1. 05 

August 20 1 .73 



Discharge. 



Sec.-ft. 
. 44.2 
39.7 
113 
103 
56.7 



Date. 



1908 

May 29 

July 21 

July 31 



Gage 
height. 



Discharge. 



Feet. 
1.65 
.46 
.46 



Sec.-ft. 
249 
32.3 
33.6 



24 



WATEK IN YUKON-TANANA KEGION, 1907-1908. 



Daily gage height and estimated discharge of Little Chena River above Elliott Creek, 

1907-1908. 











[Elevation, 800 feet; 


drainage area, 


79 square miles.] 










1907. 


1908. 




July. 


August. 


September. 


May. 


June. 


July. 


August. 


Day. 


4^ 


1 

s 


-a 


6 

t 


+.5 

s 

(D 
bO 
03 

o 






a5 
ft 


A-5 

•a 
1 

0) 


6 

1 


+.5 

•a 
1 

0) 


a5 

1 


§ 

,£3 
0) 


s 


1 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


Feet. 

0.7 

1.3 

1.1 

1.1 

1.1 

1.0 

1.05 

1.1 

1.2 

1.1 

1.0 

.9 

1.0 

.8 
.9 

.8 


Sec.-ft. 
53 
157 
113 
113 
113 

95 
104 
113 
134 
113 

95 
80 
95 
66 
80 

66 
66 
60 
60 
53 

53 
53 
53 
53 
73 

95 

80 
80 
88 
95 
95 


Feet. 
1.0 

.9 

.9 

.8 

.9 

.95 
.95 
1.0 

'i."6"' 


Sec.-ft. 
95 

80 
80 
66 
80 

88 
88 
95 
95 
95 . 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 
210 
197 
185 
160 
185 

223 
185 
172 
160 
148 

160 

172. 

172 

197 

197 

100 
136 
148 
113 
113 

125 
94 
94 
86 
86 

79 
79 
72 
72 
65 


Feet. 

0.46 



".'46' 


Sec.-ft. 
65 
58 
58 
58 
58 

58 
58 
58 
46 
46 

46 
46 
46 
46 
42 

42 
38 
38 
35 
35 

33 
33 
33 
33 
33 

33 
33 
33 
33 
33 
33 


Feet. 

'6.'4i' 
.50 

.40 
".'45' 

"."76' 

"."96" 
.80 

.65 


Sec.-ft. 
32 


2 













32 


3 










1.40 


32 


4 










29 


5 












29 


6 










1.55 


29 


7 










29 


8 












35 


9 












35 


10 






. 




1.25 


32 


11 










28 


12 










1 




30 


13 










1 




30 


14 










1 




32 


15 














1.45 


35 


16 














38 


17 














1.20 


42 


18 
















46 


19 














1.10 



52 


20 






.7 

.7 
.7 
.7 
.7 

1.0 
.9 
.9 

"i.o" 

1.0 




2.20 


405 

374 
374 
346 
318 
290 

203 
236 
210 
236 
250 
250 


58 


21 










65 


22 


0.60 


42 
42 
42 
42 

80 
66 
53 
42 
42 
42 








79 


23 






65 


24 


.60 
.60 

.90 

.80 
.70 
.60 
.60 
.60 








58 


25 








!>?, 


26 








46 


27 










28 













29 






1.60 






30 










31 




. 






















M 

Mean p 

mile. 


ean... 
er sq. 


49.3 

.625 

.23 




85.4 
1.08 
1.24 




86.2 

1.09 

.40 




1 


296 
3.75 
1.67 




142 
1.80 
2.01 




43.2 

.547 

.63 




41.1 
.520 


Run-off 
ininc 


depth 
les.. . 


.49 



LITTLE CHENA RIVER BELOW FISH CREEK. 

A gaging station was established on Little Chena River below the 
mouth of Fish Creek May 1, 1908. Measurements were made from 
a car and cable during high water and by wading in low water. 

Discharge measurements of Little Chena River below Fish Creeh, 1908. 



Date. 



April 28 

May 2.. 
May 3.. 
May 4. . 
May 5.. 



Gage 
height. 



Feet. 
(o) 
3.75 
4.00 
4.00 
4.08 



Dis- 
charge. 




Date. 



July 20... 
July 21... 
July 30... 
August 3. 
August 23 



Gage 
height. 



Feet. 
1.60 
1.50 
1.50 
1.58 
1.80 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec.-ft. 
83 
74. 
74. 

87. 
110 



a Measurement made before gage was installed, river partly filled with ice. 



THE FAIEBAXKS DISTEICT. 



25 



Daily mean gage height and estimated discharge of Little Chena River below Fish Creek, 

1908. 

[Elevation, 700 feet: drainage area, 228 square miles.] 





May. 


June. 


July. 


August. 


Day, 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage Dis- 
height. charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 


Feet. 

3. I'D 

3.70 
4.00 
4.00 
4.05 

4.15 
3.90 
3.71 
3.t8 
3.70 


Sec.-ft. 
714 
746 
960 
960 
998 

1.075 

885 
753 
732 
746 

Y32 

714 
732 
746 
WO 

1,668 
1,510 
1.2e5 
1,265 
1.320 

1.265 
870 
620 
632 
465 

324 
265 
489 
443 
443 
512 


Feet. 
3.35 
2.95 
2.65 
2.48 
3.48 

3.55 
3.00 
2.80 
2.48 
2.31 

2.40 
2.60 
2.55 

2.68 
2.98 

2.58 
2.50 
2.70 
2.45 
2.40 


Sec.-ft. 
537 
367 
274 
231 
608 

651 
384 
318 
230 
192 

212 
260 
248 
282 
378 

253 
235 
288 
224 
212 

235 
3a3 
260 
212 
212 

201 
190 
180 
170 
161 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 
161 
153 
145 
145 
137 

129 
122 
115 
108 
108 

108 


Feet. 
1.48 
1.56 
1.58 
1.54 
1.49 

1.44 
1.45 
1.50 
1.50 
1.49 

1.45 
1.40 
1.40 
1.46 
1.49 

1.52 
1.62 
1.60 
1.65 
1.70 

1.82 
1.90 
1.75 
1.72 
1.70 

1.64 
1.65 


Sec.-ft. 
68 

78 
80 
74 
68 

62 
64 
70 


9 

10 

11.... 


70 

C8 

&4 


12 

13 

14 

15 


3.65 
3.t8 
3.70 
i98 

4.85 
4.68 
4.38 
4. 38 
4.44 

4.38 
3.88 
3.50 
3.52 
3.20 

2.82 
2.62 
3.25 
3.15 
a 15 
3.30 


! 101 

95 

......... 88 

82 

76 


59 
59 

65 

68 


16 


72 


17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

23 


"i.66" 
1.50 


70 
70 
82 
82 

70 
70 
70 
70 
70 

70 
70 


84 
82 
88 
95 

111 

122 
101 


24 

25 

26 

27 


98 
95 

83 
88 


28 


i 70 

1.50 1 70 
1.50 1 70 
1.45 64 




29 


1 


30 




31 














Mean 




832 
3.65 




284 
1.25 
1.40 


949 

1 .416 

' .48 







79.2 


Mean per square mile 




.347 


Run-ofi. depth in inches 




.35 













ELLIOTT CREEK ABOVE SOREELS CREEK. 

Elliott Creek takes the drainage from the southern slope of Twtq 
Butte Hills, in the Chatanika divide, and flows southward, discharg- 
ing its waters and those of Sorrels Creek, its tributary, into the Little 
Chena about 4 miles above Fish Creek. 

The drainage area is steep in its upper reaches and well timbered 
in the creek bottom. The stream flows in a narrow channel, rather 
deeply cut, and the banks are lined with willow and small spruce. 

A gaging station was established about half a mile above the mouth 
of Sorrels Creek July 22, 1907, and regular readings were taken. 

- Discharge measurements of Elliott Creek above Sorrels Creeh, 1907-1908. 



Date. 



j hSSl ,I)i^harge. 



1907. Feet. 

July 23 ' 1.6 

Augusts 1.85 

August 20 1.615 



Sec.-ft. 
5.1 
13.8 
7.1 



Date. 



Gage 
height. 



Discharge. 



1908. Feet. 

Mav 29 ' 2. 15 

Julv21 1.35 

JulVsi 1.35 



Sec.-ft. 
32.5 
4.4 
4.5 



26 



WATER IN YUKON-TANANA REGION, 1907-1908. 



Daily gage height and estimated discharge of Elliott Creek above Sorrels Creek, 1907-1908. 
[Elevation, 800 feet; drainage area, 13.8 square miles.] 








1907. 


1908. 




July. 


August. 


September. 


May. 


June. 


. July. 


August. 


Day. 


'53 

O 


6 

o 


-1-3 






o 

M 


S 

03 

o 


bjO 
o 

5 




o 
ft 




o 

s 






s 


1 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


Feet. 
1.7 
2.1 
2.1 


Sec.-ft. 
9.0 
23 
23 

17.2 
12.3 

12.3 
12.3 
12.3 
15. 6 
12.3 

12.3 

9.0 

12.3 

12.3 

9.0 

9.0 
9.0 
7.4 
7.4 
5.8 

5.8 
5.8 
5.8 
5.8 
7.4 

9.0 
9.0 
12.3 
12.3 
12.3 
12.3 


Feet. 
1.8 
1.8 
1.7 
1.7 
1.7 

"i'.i' 


Sec.-ft. 

12.3 

12.3 

9.0 

9.0 

9.0 

9.0 

9.0 

9.0 

10.0 

12.0 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 
26.0 
17 
13 
13 
11 

11 
15 
17 
22 
32 

32 
26 ■ 
26 
22 
20 

15 
9.5 
9.3 
9.1 

8.9 

9.5 
9.5 
9.5 
9.5 
9.5 

8.6 
8.6 
8.6 
8.6 
8.6 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 
7.5 
7.5 
7.5 
6.6 
6.6 

6.0 
6.0 
6.0 

5.4 
5.4 

5.0 
5.0 
5.0 
5.0 
5.0 

4.6 
4.6 
4.6 
4.6 
4.6 

4.5 
4.5 
4.5 
4.5 
4.5 

4.5 
4.5 
4.5 
4.5 
4.5 
4.5 


Feet. 

'i.36' 
1.33 

1.29 
.'i.'34' 

'{.'35' 
1.34 


Sec.-ft. 
4.5 


2 












4.5 


3 










1.85 


4.5 


4 










4.4 


5 






1.8 
1.8 








4.4 


6 










1.80 


4.4 


7 










4.4 


8 






1.8 
1.9 
1.8 

1.8 
1.7 
1.8 
1.8 
1.7 

1.7 








4.5 


9 












4.4 


10 1 








2.15 


4.4 


11 










4.4 


12 
















4.4 


13 . . 
















4.4 


14 
















4.5 


15 














2.00 


4.5 


16 














4.5 


17 














1.75 


4.5 


18... 
















4.6 


19 






1.65 
1.6 

1.6 
1.6 
1.6 
1.6 

1.7 
1.7 
1.8 

'i'.h" 










1.73 


4.5 


20 










3.30 


216 

184 

120 

56 

40 

22 

11 
15 

22 
32 
48 
48 


4.5 


21 










4.6 


22 


1.6 
1.6 
1.6 
1.6 

1.7 
1.7 
1.6 
1.6 


5.8 
5.8 
5.8 
5.8 

9.0 
9.0 
5.8 
5.8 
4.1 
2.5 








4.6 


23 








4.6 


24 








4.6 


25 








4.5 


26 








4.5 


27. .. 










28 













29 






2.15 






30 










31 .. 


1.5 








! 


















M 

Mean 
S'juan 

Run-off 
in incl 


ean... 
per 
; mile, 
depth 
les 


5.94 

.430 

.16 




11.0 

.797 
.92 




10.0 
.724 

.27 




67.8 
4.91 
2.19 




14.8 
1.07 
1.19 




5.22 

.378 

.44 




4.48 

.324 

.31 



SORRELS CREEK. 

Sorrels Creek rises in the Chatanika divide west of Flat Creek, and 
flows westward along this divide for about 5 miles, then, by an abrupt 
bend to the left, it takes a southerly course for about 6 miles to 
Elliott Creek, uniting with the latter about 3 miles above its mouth. 
The stream flows in a narrow irregular channel, rather deeply cut in 
the mucklike bottom lands, and is well hidden from view by the 
masses of spruce and willow along its banks. 

A gagino* station was established on this stream about one-half mile 
above its mouth July 23, 1907, and regular readings were taken. 



THE FAIRBANKS DISTRICT. 



21 



Discharge measurements of Sorrels Creek near mouth. 1907-1908. 



Date. 



1907 

July 23 

August 5 

August 20 



hSjIl discharge. 



Feet. 
1.00 
1.40 
1.02 



Sec.-ft. 
10.3 
28.2 
12.0 



Date. 



1908. 

May 29 

July 21 

July 31 



Gage 
height. 



Feet. 
1.75 
1.09 
1.03 



Discharge. 



Sec.-ft. 
54.3 
11.3 
10.5 



Daily gage height and estimated discharge of Sorrels Creek near mouth, 1907-1908. 
[Elevation, 800 feet; drainage area, 21 square miles.] 





1907. 


1908. 




July. 


August. 


September. 


May. 


June. 


July. 


August. 


Day. 


-l-a 

■a 

1 
© 

to 

08 

o 


CO 

s 




03 


-t-j 

1 


1 
5 


-a 
S 


1 

s 


# 
S 

bo 
C3 

o 


1 


4.3 

s 


5 


-1-3 
.# 

3 
© 


a5 

•s 

CO 

5 


1 


Feet. 


Sec-ft. 


Feet. 

1.1 

1.4 

1.4 

1.5 

1.35 

1.3 


Sec.-ft. 
14.7 
27.8 
27.8 
32.1 
25.6 

23.4 
23.4 
23.4 
27.8 
23.4 

23.4 
19.0 
19.0 
19.0 
14.7 

14.7 
14.7 
12.5 
10.3 
10.3 

10.3 
10.3 
10.3 
10.3 
12.5 

14.7 
14.7 
19.0 
19.0 
19.0 
19.0 


Feet. 
1.2 
1.2 
1.1 
1.1 
1.1 

'"i.'i" 


Sec.-ft. 
19.0 
19.0 
14.7 
14.7 
14.7 

« 

14.7 
14.7 
14.7 
14.7 
19.0 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 
66 
50 
36 
34 
28 

30 
30 
29 
28 
27 

29 
31 
39 
37 
40 

42 
45 
50 

45 
45 

60 
72 
60 
57 
54 

50 
48 
45 
42 
40 


Feet. 
1.08 

"i.'os' 


Sec.-ft. 
38 
36 
35 
34 
32 

30 
29 
28 
27 
25 

23 
22 
21 
20 
. 19 

17 
16 
15 
14 
13 

12 
12 
11 
11 
11 

11 
11 
11 
11 
11 
11 


Feet. 

'i."o6' 

1.02 
.99 

i.'oi' 
i.'is' 

'i.'22' 
1.10 


Scc.-ft. 

11 


2 












11 


3 










1.55 


10 


4 










10 


5 ... 










10 


6 








1.45 


10 


7 








10 


8 




1.3 
1.4 
1.3 

1.3 
1.2 
1.2 
1.2 
1.1 

1.1 








10 


9 










10 


10 








1.40 


10 


11 








10 


12 














10 


13 














10 


14 


1 












10 


15 












1.60 


11 


16 












13 


17 












1.65 


15 


18 














15 


19 - 














1.65 


15 


20 


j 


1.0 

1.0 
1.0 
1.0 
1.0 

1.1 
1.1 
1.2 

'i.'2"" 






2.30 


m 

113 

98 
84 
72 
60 

50 
36 
45 
55 

66 
66 


16 


21 


! 






17 


22 


1.0 
1.0 
1.0 
1.0 

1.1 
1.1 

1.0 
1.0 


10.3 
10.3 
10.3 
10.3 

14.7 
14.7 
10.3 
10.3 
8.2 
6.0 








18 


23 








17 


24 








17 


25 








15 


26 








13 


27 










28 










29 






1.75 


1 


30 






1 


31 


.9 
























M 

Mean 
square 

Run-off, 
in inc^ 


ean... 
per 
- mile, 
depth 
les ... 


10.5 

.500 

.19 




18.2 
.867 
1.00 




16.0 

.762 

.28 




73.0 
3.48 
1.55 




42.8 
2.04 
2.28 




19.9 
.948 
1.09 





12.5 

.595 

.58 



FISH CREEK ABOVE FAIRBANKS CREEK. 

Fish Creek rises in the high ridge at the head of Goldstream Creek 
and flows northwestward through an irregularly formed valley. 
About 14 miles below its source it makes an abrupt bend to the right, 
rounding the point of a rather steep divide that separates its drain- 
age from that of the Little Chena, into which it discharges about 2 
miles below this bend. Its course is tortuous and closely follows the 
right side of the valley, the left side of which is a broad, marshy bot- 



28 



WATER IN YUKON-TANANA REGION, 1907-1908. 



torn land. Its principal tributaries are Solo, Bear, Fairbanks, and 
Miller creeks, all from the left. The upper slopes of these streams 
are rather steep, but they become rapidly less as Fish Creek Valley 
is approached. 

A gaging station was established a short distance above Fairbanks 
Creek July 22, 1907, and regular readings were taken. 

Discharge Tneasurements of Fish Creek above Fairbanks Creek, 1907-1908. 



Date, 



1907. 

July 21 

July 25 

August 3 

August 4 

August 19 



Gage 
height. 



Feet. 
1.00 
1.00 
1.55 
1.35 
1.00 



Dis- 


charge. 


Sec.-ft. 


23.7 


24.3 


47.8 


37.6 


20.8 



Date. 



1908 

May 31 

July 18 

July 19 

July 22 

July 29 

August 5 



Gage 
height. 



Feet. 
2.40 
.85 
.85 
.75 
.75 
.75 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec.-ft. 
107.0 
16.0 
16.8 
12.8 
15.4 
15.0 



Daily gage height and estimated discharge of Fish Creek above Fairbanks Creek, 1907-1908. 
[ Elevation, 925 feet; drainage area, 39 square miles.] 





1907. 


1908. 




July. 


August. 


September. 


May. 


June. 


July. 


August. 


Day. 


4^ 

•a 
1 


a5 


W) 
C3 

O 






1 

1 

s 




o 

CO 


S 

03 
c3 

o 


6 

1 


-4J 

-a 
1 


1 

s 


•a 
1 




a5 

1 

s 


1 


Feet. 


Sec-ft. 


Feet. 

3.2 

2.4 

1.4 

1.3 


Sec.-ft. 
155 
100 

39 

35 

37 

39 
47 
35 
50 
50 

39 
31 
27 
27 

27 

24 
24 
24 
24 
24 

24 
24 
24 
24 
27 

27 
24 
24 
27 
31 
27 


Feet. 
1.0 
1.0 
1.0 
1.0 
1.1 

"i.i" 

1.1 
1.3 


Sec.-ft. 
24 
24 
24 
24 
27 

27 
27 
27 
27 
35 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


Feet. 
2.35 


Sec.-ft. 
102 

86 

79 

71 

71 

137 
98 
68 
38 
43 

55 
61 
55 

52 
43 

43 
41 
■41 
38 
38 

43 
55 
52 
49 
46 

43 
41 
38 
38 
36 


Feet. 

"6." 85' 

.85 

".'75' 
"."75' 


Sec.-ft. 
33 
31 
31 
29 
29 

29 
26 
26 
24 
24 

22 
22 
22 
20 
18 

18 
16.5 
16.5 
16.5 
15.0 

12.0 
13.5 
13.5 
13.5 
13.5 

13.5 
13.5 
13.5 
13.5 
13.5 
13.5 


Feet. 

"6." 75" 

".'75' 
".'76" 

".'82' 

.89 

".'82' 


Sec.-ft. 
13.5 


2 . . 










13.5 


3 












13.5 


4 












13.5 


5 










1.95 
2.70 


13.5 


6 . 






1.4 

1.55 

1.3 

1.6 

1.6 






13.5 


7 










13.5 


g 












13.5 


9 . 










1.40 


13.5 


10. ... 










13.5 


11 












13.5 


12 






1.2 
1.1 
1.1 
1.1 

1.0 
1.0 










1.80 


12.0 


13 














12.0 


14 






2.6 


all5 








13.5 


15 










1.50 
1.50 


15.0 


16 














15.0 


17 














15.6 


18 
















16.2 


19 






1.0 












16.5 


20 














1.40 


16.8 


21 . 






1.0 
1.0 

"i.'o"' 
1.1 

1.1 

1.0 
1.0 

'i.'2" 
1.1 










17.7 


22 


1.0 


24 
24 
24 
24 

27 
24 
21 
21 
18 
18 






3.60 


227 
197 
167 
127 

90 

94 

98 

102 

107 

107 




17.4 


23 






17.1 


24 










16.8 


25- . . 


1.0 

1.1 
1.0 

.9 
.9 
.8 
.8 








16.5 


26 








16.1 


27 








15.6 


28 










29 












30 .. 












31 






2.40 






















M 
Mean 

squan 
Run-off 

in inc 


can. . . 

per 
jmile. 

depth 

les 


22.5 

.577 

.21 




36.8 
.944 
1.09 





26.6 

.682 

.25 




132 
3.38 
1.26 




56.7 
1.45 
1.61 




19.9 

.510 

.59 




14.8 

.380 

.38 



a Not included in mean. 



THE FAIRBANKS DISTEICT. 



29 



FISH CREEK AT MOUTH. 



A gaging station was established at the mouth of Fish Creek May 
1, 1908. Measurements were made from a car and cable during 
high water and by wading in low water. 

Discharge measurements of Fish Creeh at m,outh, 1908. 



Date. 



May 5. 
May 6. 

Do 
May 7. 

Do 
Mays. 
May 9. 



Gage 
height. 



Feet. 
4.22 
3.98 
4.20 
3.90 
4.02 
3.64 
3.70 



Discharge. 



Sec.-ft. 
618 
530 
646 
558 
571 
385 
525 



Date. 



May 28... 
May 30... 
July 20... 
July 21... 
July 30... 
August 2. 
August 23 



Gage 
height. 



Feet. 

2.30 

2.75 

.90 

.88 

.82 

1.00 

1.10 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec.-ft. 
148 
208 
26.0 
26.1 
24.6 
29.2 
32.4 



Daily mean gage height and estimated discharge of Fish Creek at mouth, 1908. 
[Elevation, 700 feet; drainage area, 90.2 square miles.] 



• 


May. 


June. 


July. 


August. 


Day. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


1 


Feet. 
3.98 
4.00 
4.25 
4.35 
4.28 

4.05 
3.95 
3.65 
3.65 
3.65 


Sec-ft. 
564 
570 
650 

682 
660 

586 
554 
464 
464 
464 

445 
422 
409 
422 
417 

396 
383 
538 
500 
493 

429 
334 
246 
196 
186 

142 
105 
142 
166 
250 
250 


Feet. 
2.60 
2.28 
1.98 
1.80 
2.25 

3.12 
2.42 
2.22 
1.90 
1.65 

1.75 

2.28 
2.15 
2.18 
2.58 

2.10 
2.10 
2.62 
2.05 
1.90 


Sec.-ft. 
206 
147 
105 
83 
142 

327 

170 

138 

95 

69 

78 
146 
128 
132 
202 

121 
121 
210 
114 
95 

114 

142 

114 

95 

89 

83 
78 
73 
73 
69 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 
65 
61 
.^7 


Feet. 
0.82 
.99 
.98 
.92 
.87 

.82 
.85 
.89 
.90 
.88 

.84 
.80 
.80 
.87 
.88 

.90 
.99 
.95 
.94 
.94 

1.08 

1.10 

1.00 

.98 

.96 

.95 
1.00 


Sec.-ft. 
23 


2 


28 


3 


28 


4 


:::::::: .^3 


25 


5 





49 

45 
42 
38 
35 
33 

31 
30 

28 
27 
25 

24 
22 
22 
24 
25 

9.?^ 


24 


6 


22 


7 


24 


8 


25 


9 


25 


10 


25 


11 


24 


12 


3.50 
3.45 
3.50 
3.48 

4.40 
4.35 
3.90 
3.78 
3.75 

3.52 
3.15 

2.78 
2.55 
2.50 

2.25 
1.98 
2.25 
2.40 
2.80 
2.80 


22 


13 


22 


14 


24 


15 


25 


16 


25 


17 


28 


18 


27 


19 


27 


20 


27 


21 


31 


22 


25 

25 

24 

24 

24 

9A 


31 


23 


28 


24 


28 


25 


27 


28 


27 


27 


28 


28 


'"6." 85' 
.82 
.79 


24 
24 
23 




29 






30 






31 












1 






Mean 




404 
4.48 
5.16 




125 
1.39 
1.55 




32.2 

.356 

.41 




25.9 


Mean per square mile : 




.287 


Run-off, depth in inches 




.28 









30 



WATEK IN YUKON-TANANA KEGION, 1907-1908. 



I 



BEAR GREEK. 

Bear Creek rises in the high divide at the head of Goldstream 
Creek, flows eastward through a deep, narrow valley, and unites 
with Fish Creek about one-half mile above the gaging station. The 
following measurements were made below Tecumseh Creek: July 20, 

1907, 8.4 second-feet; August 22, 1907, 7 second-feet; July 19, 

1908, 5.4 second-feet; drainage area, 12 square miles; discharge per 
square mile, 0.70, 0.584, and 0.450 second-feet, respectively. 

FAIRBANKS CREEK. 

Fairbanks Creek rises on the eastern side of Pedro Dome, opposite 
the headwaters of Cleary Creek, and flows eastward about 10 miles 
to Fish Creek. It is separated from Bear Creek on the right by a 
steep, high ridge, rising 800 to 1,000 feet above the stream bed. 
The valley to the left is more gradual in slope, and is drained by 
several small tributaries — Moose, Crane, Alder, Walnut, and Deep 
creeks. The stream flows close to the dividing ridge on the east 
until it approaches the broad lowland near Fish Creek. Its lower 
course lies through a narrow, deep-cut channel, thickly lined with 
willow and spruce. The stream has rather steep slopes in its upper 
course. Below Moose Creek the average fall is about 75 feet to the 
mile. 

Discovery claim is located near Alder Creek, and mining operations 
are carried on from claim 9 above to claim 13 below. The pay streak 
follows the stream channel closely down to claim 9 below, where it 
swings to the left limit. Above claim 2 below, most of the work is 
by the open-cut method. Below this point it is underground by 
drifting. The following measurements were made in 1907, but 
owing to the unfavorable conditions they are approximate only. 

Discharge measurements of Fairhanhs Creek, 1907. 



Date. 


Elevation. 


Discharge. 


Dato. 


Elevation. 


Discharge. 


June 24 




Feet. 
1,300 
1,250 


Sec.-ft. 
1.4 
2.2 


Julys 


Feet. 
1,375 


Sec.-ft. 

.72 


Do.. 


July 20 


1,400 


1.3 














MILLER 


CREEK. 







Miller Creek rises in the southeastern slope of Coffee Dome and 
flows southward, joining Fish Creek about 1 mile above its confluence 
with Little Chena River. It is about 6 miles long and flows through 
a narrow valley, draining an area of 16.7 square miles. A regular 
station was established at the mouth of the creek May 13, 1908, and 
several miscellaneous measurements were made in 1907 and 1908. 



THE FAIRBANKS DISTRICT. 

Discharge measurements of Miller Creek at mouth, 1908. 



31 



Date. 



May 28 

Do 

May 30 

July 20 



Gage 
height. 



Feet. 

1.20 

1.20 

1.32 

.60 



Dis- 
charge. 


Sec.-ft. 

27.9 

23.2 

29.4 

4.2 



Date. 



July 21 . . 
July 30.. 
August 3 



Gage 
height. 



Feet. 



,60 

,58 
62 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec.-ft. 
4.9 
4.86 
5.78 



Daily mean gage height and estimated discharge of Miller Creek at mouth, 1908. 
[Elevation, 750 feet; drainage area, .16. 7 square miles.] 





May. 


June. 


July. 


August. 


Day. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


1 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


Feet. 

1.40 

1.10 

.98 

.90 

1.14 

i.eo 

1.10 
1.02 

.88 
.85 

.90 
1.18 
1.28 
1.32 
1.24 

1.02 
.95 

1.10 
.89 

.88 


Sec.-ft. 
39.2 
19.6 
14.8 
12 
22 

55.2 
19.6 
16.1 
11.4 
10.6 

12.0 
23.6 
29.8 
32.8 
26.2 

16.1 
13.8 
19.6 
11.7 
11.4 

13.8 
15.4 
13.8 
13.4 
13 

12.6 
12.3 
12.0 
11.7 
11.4 


Feet. 

""o.'eo" 

.58 
.56 


Sec.-ft. 
11.1 
10.8 
10.6 
10.3 
10.0 

9.7 
9.4 
9.2 
8.9 
8.6 

8.4 
8.2 
8.0 
7.8 
7.6 

7.4 
7.2 
7.0 
6.8 
6.6 

6.4 
6.2 
5.9 
5.7 
5.5 

5.3 
5.1 

4.9 
4.9 

4.0 
-1.3 


Feet. 
0.58 

.62 
.62 
.60 
.58 

.58 
.58 
.60 
.60 
.58 

.56 
.54 
.54 
.GO 
.60 

.62 
.60 
.60 
.60 
.61 

.67 
.67 
.65 
.62 
.61 

.60 

.01 


Sec.-ft. 
4.6 


2 






5.3 


3 






5.3 


4 






4.9 


5 






4.6 


6 






4.6 


7 






4.6 


8 






4.9 


9 1 




4.9 


10 . 1 .. 




4.6 


11 




4.3 


12 






4 


13 

14 .- 


2.05 
2.08 
2.18 

2.45 

2.42 
2.20 
2.18 
2.15 

1.90 
l.CO 
1.22 
1.22 
1.15 

.95 
.98 
1.18 
1.28 
1.35 
1.35 


91.2 
94.2 
101 

122 
120 
103 
101 
99.2 

79.2 

55.2 

23 

28 

22 

13.8 
14.8 
23.6 
29.8 
35.2 
35.2 


4 
4.9 


15 


4.9 


16 


5.3 


17 


4.9 


18 


4.9 


19 


4.9 


20 


5.1 


21 


6.4 


22 


6.4 


23 


5.9 


24 


5.3 


25 


5.1 


26 


4.9 


27 


5. 1 


28 




29 






30 






31 




















G2.7 
3.77 
2.65 




18.2 
1.08 
1.20 




7.50 

.449 

.52 




4.98 


Mean per square mile 




.298 


Run-off, depth in inches 




.30 









32 WATEK IN YUKON-TAN AN A REGION, 1907-1908. 

Miscellaneous Tneasurements- of Miller Creek, 1907-1908. 



Date. 



1907. 
July 6.... 
July 24... 
August 20- 
August 6.. 
August 7.. 
Do... 



1908. 
July 21 ... . 
August 1.. 
July 21 ... . 
August 1.. 



Point of measurement. 



Near mouth 

do 

do 

Below mouth of Heim Creek. 
do 

Above mouth of Heim Creek . 



.do 
.do. 



Below mouth of Heim Creek. 
do 



Elevation. 



Feet. 



750 
750 
750 
790 
790 
800 



800 

800 
790 
790 



Drainage 
area. 


Discharge. 


Sq. miles. 


Sec.-ft. 


15 


7.0 


15 


7.6 


15 


8.0 


10 


8.0 


10 


8.0 


6 


4.9 


6 


2.5 


6 


2.2 


10 


3.1 


10 


2.4 



Discharge 

per square 

mile. 



Sec.-ft. 
0.466 
.506 
.533 
.800 
.800 
.816 



.416 
.366 
.310 
.240 



CHATANIKA RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 



GENERAL DESCRIPTION. 

Chatanika River is formed by the junction of Faith and McManus 
creeks, which drain the high ridge constituting the divide between 
the lower Tanana and Yukon basins. The river flows southwest- 
ward, in a winding course, through a long and rather narrow valley, 
and unites with the Tolovana from the east about 30 miles above the 
confluence of that stream with the Tanana. Its course lies mostly 
to the western side of the valley, which is from one-half mile to 7 
miles wide and about 80 miles long. The drainage area of the river 
above its mouth is approximately 1 ,300 square miles. 

From the junction of Faith and McManus creeks the stream has a 
shifting, gravelly bottom. In low and medium stages it flow^s in a 
series of pools and rapids in a channel 75 to 200 feet wide; during the 
high-water period it may spread through several channels covering a 
width of TOO to 400 feet. This high- water channel is usually well 
defined by steep, alluvial banks ranging from 8 to 10 feet in height. 

Below Poker Creek, a tributary from the right about 40 miles 
downstream from the junction, the valley widens and the bottom 
lands become marshy and swampy. From the left, the Chatanika 
receives drainage from Cleary, Eldorado, Dome, and Vault creeks, and 
other less important streams from the mining district proper. Below 
these tributaries the valley narrows to a gorgelike channel, which it 
follows for about 10 miles, after which the dividing ridges disappear 
and the stream meanders through the low swamp}'^ grounds to the 
north of Tanana River. About 10 miles from its mouth Coldstream 
Creek, its largest tributary, joins it from the left. 

The average elevation of the divides in the upper drainage area of 
the Chatanika is between 3,000 and 4,000 feet above sea level, and 
the altitude of the ridges bounding the valley on the east and west is 



THE FAIEBAXKS DISTRICT. 



33 



about 2,000 feet. Below an altitude of 1,800 to 2,000 feet the slopes 
are heavih^ timbered. 

The tributary streams from, the right are short and precipitous, 
flow-ing through V-shaped valleys; those from the left have less pre- 
cipitous courses and broader valleys and gradually lose themselves 
in the rather broad expanse of swamplike bottom lands. 

The altitude and drainage area of the upper Chatanika has attracted 
the attention of ^^ outside" capital for some time. The general 
topography has seemed suitable for a possible water supply by ditch 
line to the mining district proper, and the favorable slope of portions 
of Faith and McManus creeks has made them attractive to the pro- 
motor for hvdraulicking. 

Several gaging stations were estabHshed in this drainage basin 
during 1907. In June A. D. Gassaway, general manager of the Chat- 
anika Ditch Company, began the first records of actual stream flow 
in this section by establishing gaging weirs at the mouth of Faith 
and McManus creeks. 

Through the courtesy of this company the records are published 
in this report. 

CHATANIBLi RIVER XEAR FAITH CREEK. 

A gaging station was estabhshed Juh^ 10, 1907, on the Chatanika, 
about 2,000 feet below the confluence of Faith and McManus creeks, 
and readings were taken twice each day by M. T. Kerrick, an employee 
of the Chatanika Ditch Company. The 1908 readings were made by 
Herman Salchow, proprietor of Faith Creek Road House. 

Discharge measurements of Chatanika River near Faith Creek, 1907-1908. 



Date. 



Hydrographer. 



Gage 
height. 



1907. 
July 16.-.. 
July 26.... 
Augusts.. 



C.C. Covert... 
E. B. Brighara. 
do 



August 7...! do. 



1908. ! 

Mavll C. W. McConaughy. 

May 13 i do 



Do. 



Feet. 
1.58 
1.80 
1.89 
2.26 



a 3. 90 
a 3. 40 



.do ' a3.40 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec.-ft. 

51.9 

80.5 

96.5 

188 



311 
297 
334 



Date. 



Hydrographer. 



Gage Dis- 
height. charge. 



1908. , 

May 13 C. W . ilcConaughy . 

May 14 do 

. Do do 

May21 do 

June 26 ' do 

July 12.... 
Julvl3.... 

Do 

August 31. 



C. Covert 

E. Ellsworth. 

..do 

C. Covert 



Feet. 

03. 48 

03.37 

03.54 

4.15 

1.95 

2.05 

2.15 

2.03 

2.05 



Sec.-ft. 
396 
300 
367 
1,340 
130 
144 
178 
119 
142 



a Backwater from ice jam below station. 
81007— IRR 228— 09 3 



34 



WATER IN YUKON-TAN AN A REGION, 1907-1908. 



I 



Daily gage height and estimated discharge of GhataniJca River near Faith Creek, 1907-1908. 
[Elevation, 1,350 feet; drainage area, ]32 square miles.] 









1907.« 






1908. 




July. 


Au, 


?ust. 


September. 


Maj\ 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 




o 


'S 

o 


6 


o 




S 

O 


o 

s 


.a 

03 
O 


6 

■g 

m 

5 


+3 

§ 
xi 


5 


i 




oj 
xi 


1 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


Feci. 
1.80 
2.02 
1.86 
1.93 
1.95 

1.95 
2.25 
2.12 
2.05 
2.02 

1.92 
1.85 
1.85 
1.80 
1.80 

1.80 
1.80 
1.78 
1.75 
1.75 

1.75 
1.98 
1.92 
2.04 
2.22 

2.25 
2.15 
2.13 
2.25 
2.25 


Sec.-ft. 

82 
131 

96 
109 
114 

114 
205 
157 
138 
131 

107 
95 
95 

82 
82 

82 
82 
78 
72 

72 

72 
121 
107 
136 
193 

205 
168 
161 
205 
205 
171 


Feet. 
2.08 
2.03 
2.00 
2.01 
2.06 

2.01 
1.98 
2.02 
1.99 
1.97 

2.34 
5.00 
3.20 
2.86 
2.77 

3.24 
3.05 

2.78 
2.63 
2.56 

2.50 
2.43 
2.35 
2.31 
2.29 

2.29 
2.30 
2.34 
2.42 
2.36 


Sec.-ft. 
145 
133 
126 
128 
140 

128 
121 
131 
124 
119 

243 
1,990 
710 
503 
453 

734 
620 
463 
385 
350 

320 
285 
248 
' 230 
221 

221 
225 
243 
280 
252 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 
UO 
140 
125 
125 
102 

102 
100 
100 
102 
102 

100 

95 

95 

102 

102 

114 
126 
150 
150 
185 

270 

270 

225. 

185 

126 

126 
126 
150 
150 
150 
126 


Feet. 
2.4 
2.5 
2.9 
2.7 

2.5 
2.4 
2.3 
2.3 
2.3 

2.2 
2.1 

2.1 
2.1 
2.1 

2.2 
2.2 
2.1 
2.1 
2.1 

2.0 
2.0 
2.0 
2.1 
2.3 

2.2 
2.1 
2.1 
2.0 

(^) 


Sec.-ft. 
270 


2 
















320 


3 ... 
















530 


4 
















420 


5 
















370 


6 
















320 


7 
















270 


8 
















225 


9 
















225 


10 
















225 


11 






4.17 
3.76 
3.45 
3.45 
3.47 

3.54 
3.51 
3.42 
3.5G 
4.11 

4.15 


430 
470 
340 
340 
350 

380 
370 
320 
9<0 
1,300 

1,340 








185 


12 










150 


13 




2.1 
2.1 
1.9 

2.1 
1.9 
2.0 
1.9 
1.9 

1.8 
1.8 
1.9 
2.0 
2.0 

2.0 


150 
150 
102 

150 
102 
126 
102 
102 

82 

82 

102 

126 

126 

126 
150 
175 
200 
180 
150 


"2.0' 
2.1 
2.1 
2.2 

2.4 
2.4 
2.3 
2.2 
2.0 

2.0 
2.0 
2.1 
2.1 
2.1 
2.0 


150 


14 


1 


150 


15 


j 


150 


16 






185 


17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 


1.65 
1.86 
1.80 
1.75 

1.70 
1.62 
1.60 
1.64 
1.75 

1.85 
1.75 
1.67 
1.65 
1.60 
1.60 

ean. . . 
per 
imile. 
depth 
les 


60 
96 
82 

72 

66 
57 
55 
59 

72 

95 
72 
62 
60 
55 
55 


185 
150 
150 
150 

126 
126 


23 






126 


24 






150 


25 






225 


26 






185 


27 






150 


28 








150 


29 








126 


30 








102 


31 
























M 
Mean 

square 
Run-off 

in inel 


67.8 
.514 

.28 




125 
.947 
1.09 




342 
2.59 
2.89 




598 
4.53 
1.85 




131 

.992 

.70 




137 
1.04 
1.20 





208 
1.58 
1.76 



a Revised from 1908 curve. 



& The river was frozen after September 30, 1908. 



CHATANIKA RIVER BELOW POKER CREEK. 

A gaging station was established on Chatanika River below Poker 
Creek June 20, 1907. A post gage driven firmly in the ground near 
the log chute of the Cleary Creek Lumber Company's mill was read 
twice each day by J. Fitzsimmons. 



THE FAIRBANKS DISTRICT. 35 

Discharge measurements of Chatanika River below Poker Creek, 1907-1908. 



Date. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Date. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


June 22 


1907. 


Feet. 
1.08 
.83 
1.98 


Sec.-ft. 
246 
178 
669 


1908. 
August 8 


Feet. 
0.95 
.90 
1.85 


Sec.-ft. 
207 


July 4 

August 9 


August 14 


192 


August 22 


420 


1 





Daily mean gage height and estimated discharge of Chatanika River heloiv Poker Creek, 1907. 
[Elevation 700 feet; drainage area, 456 square miles. Discharges over 1,000 second-feet are approximate.] 





June. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


October. 


Day. 


-1-3 

s 


a3 

1 

s 


a; 


6 

1 

o 

s 


4i 

-a 

53 


03 

be 
u 
03 

,a 

o 

K) 

ft 


-1-3 


S 


4^ 
■^ 

03 

CD 


03 
o 

s 


1 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


Feet. 
0.9 

.9 

.9 

.8 

.8 

.8 

.8 

.95 

.85 

.8 

.9 
.9 
.95 
.9 
1.0 

1.05 

1.1 

1.1 

1.2 

1.15 

1.1 
1.1 

.95 

.9 

.9 

1.05 
1.1 
1.1 
1.1 
1.0 
.9 


Sec.-ft. 
192 
192 
192 
167 
167 

167 
167 
204 
180 
167 

192 
192 
204 
192 
216 

232 
250 
250 
283 
266 

250 
250 
204 
192 
192 

232 
250 
250 
250 
216 
192 


Feet. 

2.1 

2.6 

2.0 

1.75 

1.75 

1.65 

1.5 

1.75 

1.9 

1.85 

1.6 

1.5 

1.35 

1.4 

1.25 

1.2 
1.1 
1.1 
1.0 
1.1 

1.1 

1.0 

1.15 

1.2 

1.35 

1.55 

1.3 

1.4 

1.55 

1.7 

1.6 


Sec.-ft. 
752 
1, 160 
680 
530 
530 

480 
405 
530 
620 
590 

455 
405 
342 
363 
300 

283 
250 
250 
216 
250 

250 
216 
266 
283 
342 

430 
321 
363 
430 
505 
455 


Feet. 

1.45 

1.4 

1.3 

1.3 

1.25 

1.3 

1.3 

1.3 

1.45 

1.3 

1.35 
3.6 

4.45 
3.25 
2.85 

4.0 

4.3 

2.35 

2.5 

2.3 

2.35 

2.3 

2.25 

2.15 

2.0 

2.0 

2.0 

2.0 

2.15 

2.35 


Sec.-ft. 
384 
363 
321 
321 
300 

321 
321 
321 

384 
321 

342 
2,160 
3,160 
1,780 
1,390 

2,620 
2,980 

9<2 
1,060 

901 

942 
901 
860 
788 
680 

680 
680 
680 
788 
942 


Feet. 

2.25 

2.0 

1.85 

1.75 

1.70 

1.65 

1.6 

1.45 

1.25 

1.05 

1.45 
1.85 
1.8 
1.75 
(a) 


Sec.-ft. 
860 


2 






680 


3 






590 


4 






530 








505 


6 . 






■^80 


7 






455 


S 






384 


9 .. . 






300 


10. 






232 


11 






384 


12 






590 


13. 






5(i0 


14 






530 


15 








16. 








17. . . 










18. 










19 










20 


1.1 

1.1 

1.1 

1.1 

1.05 

1.0 

.9 

.9 
1.0 
1.1 
1.0 


250 

250 
250 
250 
232 
216 

192 
192 
216 
250 
216 






21 







22 






23 






24 






25 






26 






27 






28... 






29 






30 






31 




















Mean 




228 
.500 
.20 


211 

463 

.53 




428 
.939 
1.08 


954 

2. 09 

2.33 


...... 


506 


Mean per square mile 




1.11 


Run-off, depth in inches 




.68 









a The river was frozen over after October 14. 



36 WATEK IN YUKON-TAN AN A KEGION, 1907-1908. 

Daily mean gage height and estimated discharge of Chatanika River below PoTcer Creek, 1908. 
[Elevation, 700 feet; drainage area, 456 square miles. Discharges over 1,000 second-feet' are approximate.] 





May. 


June. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


October. 


Day. 


-t-3 ' 


to 

"S 

CD 


o 
w 

s 


03 
O 


o 

M 


bo 
'S 


a3 
o 

s 


1 


M 

ft 


bjp 
'S 


<D 

O 

ft 


1 


Feet, i Sec.-ft. 


Feet. 

3.7 

3.3 

3.05 

2.6 

2.9 

3.65 

2.6 

2.6 

2.2 

1.95 

2.15 

2.35 

2.95 

2.9 

3.25 

2.5 

2.65 

2.45 

2.2 

2.05 

1.95 

1.8 

1.6 

1.5 

1.35 

1.3 
1.2 
1.3 
1.4 
1.2 


Sec.-ft. 
2,280 
1,830 
1,580 
1,160 
1,430 

2,220 

1,160 

1,160 

824 

650 

788 

942 

1,480 

1,430 

1,780 

1,060 

1,200 

1,020 

824 

716 

650 
560 
455 
405 
342 

321 
283 
321 
363 
283 


Feet. 

1.4 

1.35 

1.15 

1.85 

1.55 

1.45 

1.45 

1.5 

2.35 

1.8 

1.45 
1.35 
1.35 
1.25 
1.2 

1.2 

1.35 

1.25 

1.2 

1.1 

.95 
.95 
.95 
1.0 
.95 

.95 
.95 

1.0 

1.2 

1.25 

1.2 


Sec.-ft. 
363 
342 
266 
590 
430 

384 
384 
405 
942 
560 

384 


Feet. 
1.15 
1.15 
1.15 
1.05 
1.05 

.95 
.95 
.95 

1.0 

1.0 

.95 


Sec.-ft. 
266 
266 
266 
232 
232 

204 
204 
204 
216 
216 

204 
204 
192 
192 
204 

232 
283 
3.42 
363 
405 

455 
455 
430 
363 
342 

321 
300 
300 
300 
300 
300 


Feet. 

1.3 

1.45 

2.1 

2.6 

2.35 

2.1 

1.95 

1.8 

1.75 

1.6 

1.55 

1.5 

1.45 

1.35 

1.25 

1.35 

1.4 

1.5 

1.8 

1.7 

1.5 

1.45 

1.45 

1.3 

1.25 

1.25 

1.3 

1.25 

1.15 

1.25 


Sec.-ft. 
321 
384 
752 
1,160 
942 

752 
650 
560 
530 
455 

430 
405 
384 
342 
300 

342 
363 
405 
560 
505 

405 
384 
384 
321 
300 

300 
321 
300 
266 
300 


Feet. 

1.15 

1.25 

1.35 

1.2 

1.15 

1.05 


Sec.-ft. 
266 


2 




300 


3.. . 




342 


4 




283 


5 




206 


6 


1 


9.^9 


7 




1.05 '>^'> 


8 


..... . . 


1.15 
1.0 
.95 

1.05 

1.05 

1.0 

.95 

.85 

.85 
1.0 
1.05 
1.05 
1.0 

.85 
(a) 


266 


9 




216 


10 




204 


ir. 


i 


232 


12 




342 1 .95 
342 .9 
300 .9 
283 - 95 


232 


13 





216 


14 




204 


15 




179 


16 


4.35' 

4.55 

4.5 

4.6 

4.6 

5.25 

4.75 

3.55 

4.2 

4.3 

3.65 

3.45 

3.2 

3.45 

3.55 

3.35 


3,040 
3,280 
3,220 
3,340 
3,340 

4,120 
3,520 
2,110 
2,860 
2,980 

2,220 
2,000 
1,730 
2,000 
2,110 
1,890 


283 
342 
300 
283 
250 

204 
204 
204 
216 
204 

204 
204 
216 
283 
300 
283 


1.05 

1.2 

1.35 

1.4 

1.5 

1.6 

1.6 

1.55 

1.4 

1.35 

1.3 

1.25 

1.25 

1.25 

1.25 

1.25 


179 


17 


216 


18 


232 


19 


232 


20 


216 


21 


179 


22 




23 




24 






25 






26 






27 






28 






29 






30 




31 














Mean 




2,730 
5.99 
3.56 


. 


984 
2.16 
2.41 




332 
.728 
.84 




284 
.623 
.72 




461 
1.01 
1.12 







234 


Mean per 
square mile . 




.513 


Run-off, deptii 
in inches 




.40 









a The river was frozen over after October 21. 

m'manus creek. 

McManus Creek, the left fork of Chatanika River, rises between 
the headwaters of Birch Creek, a tributary of the Yukon, and the 
west fork of the Chena, a tributary of the Tanana. The ridges that 
surround it have a general elevation of about 3,000 feet. Its prin- 
cipal tributaries are Montana and Idaho creeks from the north, and 
Smith Creek which enters from the south near its mouth. Pool Creek 
is tributary to Smith Creek. One or two possible reservoir sites are 
found in this basin, but they are not as favorable as those on Faith 
Creek. 



THE FAIRBANKS DISTEICT, 



37 



A gaging weir was established on McManus Creek near its mouth 
June 20, 1907, by the Chatanika Ditch Company, and records were 
kept until the weir was washed out on September 5. A number of 
miscellaneous measurements were also made. 

Daily estimated discharge, in second-feet, of McManus Creek near mouth, 1907. 

[Elevation, 1,375 feet; drainage area, 80 square miles.] 



Day. 


June. 


July. 


Aug. 


Sept. 


Day. 


June. 


July. 


Aug. 


Sept. 


1 




21.6 
20.1 
19.0 
18.5 
17.8 
16.1 
17.5 
17.8 
15.8 
15.0 
16.1 
15.0 
15.4 
17.8 
18.5 
19.0 
21.6 
34.7 
40.0 


81.2 
80.8 
56.1 
51.2 
63.4 
60.6 
98.6 
84.3 
75.6 
77.8 
62.2 
49.8 
45.5 
40.0 
37.2 
42.4 
39.0 
37.4 
34.7 


71.5 
62.8 
57.8 
57.2 

_ _ _ 


20 


34.8 
34.8 
31.2 
34.8 
25.0 
21.7 
25.0 
24.3 
31.1 
26.0 
23.2 


31.6 
26.0 
21.2 
17.8 
21.4 
19.1 
38.6 
29.1 
23.9 
21.8 
18.8 
16.7 


33.6 

32.2 

68.7 

50.3 

67.1 

81.2 

102.0 

92.6 

91.2 

114.0 

112.0 

94.1 




2 




21 




3 




22 




4 




23 




5 




24 




6 




25 

26 

27 

28 

29 




7 






8 






9 






10 






11 




30 




12 




31 




13 




Mean 

Mean per square 
mile 

Run-otf, depth 
in inches 






14 




28.5 
.356 
.15 


21.4 
.268 
.31 


60.4 
.830 
.96 




15 






16 






17 






18 






19 













Note. — These discharges were measured by weir, and were furnished by the Chatanika Ditch Company. 
Miscellaneous measurements in McManus Creeh drainage basin, 1907-1908. 



Date. 


Point of measurement. 


Eleva- 
tion, a 


Drainage 
area. 


Discharge. 


Discharge 

per square 

mile. 


1907. 

July 10 

Do 


McManus Creek at mouth 


Feet. 
1,375 
1,375 
1,400 
1,400 
1,375 
2,000 

1,975 
1,800 

1,390 
1,400 

1,400 
1,450 
1,450 
1,380 

1,375 
1,400 

1,400 
1,400 
1,400 
1,450 
1,450 
1,450 
1,450 
1,450 
1,450 
1,450 


Sq. miles. 
80 
80 
42.8 
34 
80 
8 

10 
26 


Sec.-ft. 
15.6 
16.4 
10.2 
7.8 
15.6 
1.8 

3.8 
6.5 

6 21.4 
12.4 

8.7 

5.4 

2.4 

bl9.4 

59.0 
36.0 

33.8 
27.4 
22.7 
11.0 
9.3 
14.2 
20.5 
15.4 
11.0 
12.3 


Sec.-ft. 
0. 195 


do 


.205 


July 12 

Do 

Do 


McManus Creek above Smith Creek 

Smith Creek near mouth 

McManus Creek at mouth 


.243 
.229 
.192 


July 13 

Do 

Do 

Do 


McManus Creek f mile above Montana 

Creek. 
McManus Creek below Montana Creek. 
McManus Creek IJ miles below Idaho 

Creek. 

McManus Creek | mile above mouth 

McManus Creek 500 feet above Smith 

Creek. 
Smith Creek near mouth 


.162 

.380 
.250 


July 14 

Do 


42 

34 

17 
14 


.296 
.256 


Do 


Smith Creek above Pool Creek 


.323 


Do 


Pool Creek above mouth 


.172 


Do. . . 


McManus Creek above mouth 




1908. 

July 14 

Do 

July 12 

July 13 


McManus Creek at mouth 


80 
42 

34 
34 
34 

17 
17 
17 
17 
14 
14 
14 


.738 


McManus Creek 500 feet above Smith 

Creek. 
Smith Creek below Pool Creek 


.858 
.994 


do 


.806 


July 14 


do 


.668 


July 13 

July 14 


Smith Creek above Pool Creek 


.647 


do 


.547 


August 30 


do 


.835 


September 1.. 


do 


1.21 


July 12 

July 13 


Pool Creek at mouth 


1.10 


do 


.786 


July 14 


do 


.878 









a Taken from topographic map of Fairbanks quadrangle; approximate only. 
6 Measurement approximate. 



38 



WATER IN YUKON-TAN AN A REGION, 1907-1908. 



FAITH CREEK. 

Faith Creek, the right fork of Chatanika River, has its source in the 
southeasterly slope of the high ridges separating the Beaver and Birch 
Creek drainage basin from that of the Chatanika. It occupies a 
rather narrow, irregular valley, very steep in its upper course, and 
drains an area of 51 square miles. 

In the upper portion of the valley considerable ice remains as late 
as the middle of July, especially in Charity Creek. Below the mouth 
of Deep Creek, a tributary from the right in the lower valley, there is 
a favorable reservoir site and with a dam of moderate size a consider- 
able amount of the flood waters could be stored. 

The Chatanika Ditch Company established a gaging weir at the 
mouth of Faith Creek in 1907, and daily records were kept subsequent 
to June 21. 



Daily estimated discharge, in second-feet, of Faith Creeh near mouth, 1907. 
[Elevation, 1,375 feet; drainage area, 51 square miles.] 



Day. 


June. 


July. 


Aug. 


Sept. 


Day. 


June. 


July. 


Aug. 


Sept. 


1... 




32.6 
28.5 
26.4 
24.8 
22.1 
21.6 
22.0 
20.8 
20.1 
19.2 
21.0 
20.5 
20.1 
21.0 
20.9 
21.7 
35.3 
35.0 
62.5 


36.4 
41.1 
35.9 
34.7 
42.5 
40.6 
87.4 
62.7 
52.4 
44.2 
39.0 
35.0 
42.8 
35.6 
33.6 
34.4 
30.8 
30.6 
28.5 


59.0 

52.5 
50.2 
66. 4 


20 


44.7 
44.7 
42.8 
39.3 
38.8 
35.3 
36.5 
34.4 
45.9 
43.6 
36.8 


43.9 
38.6 
31.4 
25.5 
28.8 
26.4 
61.0 
42.0 
28.4 
30.6 
26.7 
25.0 


27.8 
26.9 
44.2 
39.4 
49.8 
62.8 
82.6 
69.3 
62.6 
70.5 
72.5 
67.8 




2 




21 -. . 




3 




22 




4 




23 




5 




24 




6 




25 . . 




7.. 




26 




8 




27 




9 




28 




10 




29 




11 




30 




12 




31 




13 




Mean 

Mean per square 

raile 

Run-off, depth 

in inches 






14 : 




40.5 
.795 
.32 


29.2 
.572 
.66 


47.5 
.932 
1.07 




15 






16 






17 






18 






19 














Note.— These discharges were measured by weir, and were furnished by the Chatanika Ditch Company. 
Miscellaneous TYieasurements in Faith Creeh drainage hasin, 1907-1908. 



Date. 


Point of measurement. 


Eleva- 
tion. 


Drainage 
area. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Discharge 

per 

square 

mile. 


1907. 
July 11 


Hope Creek near Zeph j'r Creek 


Feet. 


Sq. miles. 


Sec. -ft. 
7.7 
5.7 

66.9 
77.7 
67.7 


Sec.-ft. 
0.42 


Do 


Charity Creek near mouth 






.76 


1908. 
July 12 


Faith Creek near mouth 


1,375 
1,375 
1,375 


51 
51 
51 


1.31 


July 13 


do 


1.52 


July 14 


do 


1.33 









THE FAIRBANKS DISTRICT. 



39 



KOKOMO CREEK. 

Kokomo Creek, a tributary to Chatanika River from the left, about 
28 miles below Faith Creek, rises in the high ridge at the head of Miller 
and Elliot creeks and flows northward, draining an area of 33 square 
miles. Daily readings were taken from a reference point in a large 
stump on the river bank above Alder Creek and about 1 mile above 
the mouth of the stream. 

Discharge measurements of Kokomo Creeh near mouth, 1907. 



Date. 



JulyO 

August 14. 



SX I^ischarge. 



height. 



Feet. 
-3.00 
-2.70 



Sec. -ft. 



13. 
22. 



Daily gage height and estimated discharge of Kokomo Creek near mouth, 1907. 
[Elevation, 750 feot; drainage, area 28 square miles.] 





July. 


August. 


. Day. 


July. 


August. 


-Oay. 




6 

1 




4J 


o 

ft 


0) 

O 


to 
u 

.a 

o 

s 


o 


.a 

s 


1 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


Feet. 
+0.9 
-1.2 
-2.0 
-2.2 
-2.4 
-2.4 
-2.3 
-2.4 
-2.0 
-2.2 
-2.4 
-2.5 
-2.6 
-2.7 


Sec.-ft. 
112 
68 
43.8 
37.9 
31.8 
31.8 
34.8 
31.8 
43.8 
37.9 
31.8 
28.9 
25.8 
22.7 


19 


Feet. 
-3.0 
-3.0 
-3.0 
-3.1 
-3.2 
-3.0 
-3.1 
-3.0 
-3.0 
-3.0 
-3.1 
-3.2 
-3.2 


Sec.-ft. 
13.9 
13.9 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


2 


20 


1 


3 




21 


13.9 

10.9 

7.9 

13.9 

1.09 

13. 9 

13.9 

13.9 

10.9 

7.9 

7.9 


1 


4 


22 


1 


5 






23 




6 






24 




7 






25 




8 







26 




9 .- 


-3.0 
-3.1 

-2.6 
-2.8 
-2.8 
-2.9 
-2.9 
-2.9 
-.3.0 
-2.8 


13.9 
10.9 
25.8 
19.8 
19.8 
16.8 
16.8 
16.8 
13.9 
19.8 


27 




n 


28 




n 


29 




12 


30 




n 


31 




1 1 






1S 


Mean 




14.2 

.546 

.47 




41.6 


16 






Mean per square mile 

Run-off, depth in inches. . 


1.60 


17 






.83 


18 





















POKER CREEK. 

Poker Creek, with its tributary, Caribou Creek, rises in the high, 
barren ridges about Poker Dome and opposite the headwaters of 
Ophir, Trail, and Washington creeks. It drains an oval-shaped area 
of 40.5 square miles, well covered with timber, and has steep precipi- 
tous slopes in its upper course. 

The Tanana Electric Company has constructed a ditch line along 
the left bank of Poker Creek, following approximately the 800-foot 
contour. This ditch diverts water from Poker, Little Poker, and 
Caribou creeks to a point on the Chatanika, where about 80 feet head 
is obtained. A power plant was installed at this point, in 1908, and is 
run by water when available, and by steam at other times. 



40 



WATEK IN YUKON-TANANA KEGION, 1907-1908. 



Discharge measurements in Poker Creek drainage basin, 1907-1908 . 



Date. 


Point of measurement. 


Drainage 

area. 


Gage 
height. 


Discharge. 


Discharge 

per square 

mile. 


1907. 

July 27 

July 30 


Poker Creek near mouth 


So. miles. 
40 
40 

40 
40 


Feet. 
1.09 
1.10 
1.32 
1.33 


Sec. -ft. 
22.3 
22.6 
36.6 
37.8 
10.4 
3.9 
21.1 

9.3 
6.2 


Sec.-p: 
0.558 


. ..do 


.565 


August 9 

August 10 


do 


.915 


do 


.944 


Do 


Caribou Cieek above Little Poker Creek. 




Do 


Little Poker Creek near mouth 








Do 


Poker Creek at elevation 800 feet 

.. ..do.. . 


18.1 
18.1 




1.17 


1908. 
August 14 ... 




.514 


Do 


Little Poker and Caribou Creek ditch... 

















CLEARY CREEK. 



Cleary Creek heads to the north of Pedro Dome in a rather low 
saddle which separates its waters from those of Eldorado Creek and 
which has an elevation of about 1,800 feet. The creek flows in a 
northerly direction for about 3 miles, then, by a gradual curve to the 
left, takes a northwesterly course to Chatanika River, to which it is 
tributary from the left about 2 miles below Poker Creek. 

The creek has an average slope of about 90 feet to the mile through 
the mining section. It is considered the best producer in the camp. 
(See PL III.) The pay streak follows the creek channel closely about 
to claim 15 below. At that point it swings to the left bank, which it 
follows to the Chatanika flats. 

Cleary Creek has a drainage area of 10.5 square miles above its 
mouth. 

Discharge measurements in Cleary Creek drainage basin, 1907-1908. 



Date. 



Point of measurement. 



Drainage 
area. 



1907. 
July 4... 



Clearv Creek near Cleary. 



1908. 

July 23 Cleary Creek above Wolf Creek. 

Do Chatham Creek at mouth 

Do Wolf Creekatmouth 



Sq. miles. 



3.4 
3.0 
3.8 



Discharge. 



Sec.-ft. 
2.9 



1.6 
1.3 
.91 



Discharge 

per square 

m.ile. 



Sec.-ft. 



0.471 
.433 
.240 



ELDORADO CREEK. 



Eldorado Creek rises on the western slope of Pedro Dome and drains 
a rather narrow valley between Cleary and Dome creeks. It has a 
steep slope in its upper portion. The average fall of the creek 
through the mining section is 115 feet per mile. It is about 5 miles 
long and drains an area of 13.7 square miles. The creek flows in a 
narrow, rather deep-cut channel, well lined with willows. 

The pay streak is on the right bank and is located from claim 7 
above to claim 4 below. Bed rock ranges from 90 to 122 feet below 



THE FAIRBANKS DISTRICT. 



41 



the surface, with 10 to 80 feet of gravel. The follo^\ang measurement 
was made June 26, 1907: Discharge, 0.45 second-foot; elevation, 930 
feet; drainage area, 4 square miles; discharge, 0.112 second-foot per 
square mile. 

DOME CREEK. 

Dome Creek rises in the Chatanika divide, opposite Steamboat and 
Flume creeks, and flows northward into Chatanika River. It is 
about 5 miles long and drains an area of 13.9 square miles. The 
creek has an average grade through the mining section of about 70 
feet to the mile and good values are found in its upper and lower 
courses. Discovery claim is located on the right bank near the town 
of Dome. The creek is being worked on several claims from 7 above 
to 20 below. The pay streak is on the right bank for practically its 
entire length. Bed rock ranges from 40 feet below the surface in the 
upper portion of the drainage area to more than 200 feet below in the 
Chatanika flats, near the mouth of the streami. Very little water 
flows in the main channel during the low-water period, a large part 
of the flow being diverted by numerous small ditches. A measure- 
ment, made June 27, 1907, in a ditch near claim 2 below, gave an 
approximate discharge of 0.84 second-foot. 

MISCELLANEOUS MEASUREMENTS. 

Measurements were made of a number of small streams tributary 
to Chatanika River. Sourdough enters the river from the north 
about 3 miles below Faith Creek. Flat Creek is a small tributary 
from the south. Boston, Mackay, Belle, and Crooked creeks rise in 
the high ridge that separates their basins from the basin of Ophir 
Creek, a tributary of Beaver Creek, and enter the Chatanika from 
the north, about 25 miles below Faith Creek. They are 4 to 6 miles 
long and very steep, with deep, narrow valleys. Murphy Creek enters 
the river from the south near the lower end of the Chatanika flats. 



Miscellaneous measurements in Chatanika River drainage basin, 1907-1908. 



Date. 



Point of measurement. 



1907. 

August 15 Boston Creek. . 

Do Mackay Creek 

Do Crooked Creek. 

Do Belle Creek.... 



1908. I 

August 9 do. 

July 13 

July 15 

August 29.. 

July 26 

August 20. . 
August 26.. 



Sourdough Creek near mouth 

Flat Creek below 3d Pup 

do 

Murphy Creek above McCIoud Creek .. 

do 

Chatanika River below Murphy Creek 



Eleva- 
tion. 



Feet. 
800 
800 
800 
800 



1,200 



Drainage 
area. 



Sq. 



miles. 

6.5 

6.2 

7.2 

11.2 



3.0 

15.9 

7.0 

7.0 

17.0 

17.0 

814 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec-ft. 
3.9 
3.7 
6.3 
10. 



1.4 
22.5 
2.8 
3.7 
1.7 
1.3 
263 



Discharge 

per 

square 

mile. 



Sec-ft. 

0.600 

.596 

.875 

.909 



.407 
1.42 
.400 
.529 
,100 
.076 
.323 



42 WATEE IN YUKON-TANANA EEGION, 1907-1908. 

GOLDSTREAM CREEK DRAINAGE BASIN. 
GENERAL DESCRIPTION. 

Goldstream Creek flows southwestward, in a narrow, winding 
course, between the drainage basin of Chatanika River on the right 
and the Little Chena and Tanana basins on the left, paralleling 
Chatanika River, which it enters from the east, and draining the 
central portion of the Fairbanks mining district. It is about 70 
miles long and it drains an area of about 500 square miles. About 
40 miles below its source it leaves the dividing ridges and for the 
remainder of its course to the Chatanika flows in a zigzag channel 
across the soft, mucky flats northwest of Tanana River. The stream 
bed is sandy and shifting, and the channel is deeply cut in the allu- 
vial soil that forms the bottom lands. 

The dividing ridges rise about 1,000 feet above the stream bed and 
are well timbered with spruce and birch. On each side of the stream 
is a narrow lowland, with a gradual slope upward toward the ridges. 
This lowland is everywhere covered with the common moss, and 
where the valley widens, in its lower portion, lakes and swamps are 
numerous. The bottom land was once well covered with timber^ 
but this has been removed to make way for the railroad and mining 
enterprises. About 12 miles below the source of the river the south- 
ern ridge is broken by a low saddle, over which the Tanana Valley 
Railroad from Fairbanks enters the mining district. 

The upper portion of the valley is drained by Pedro and Gilmore 
creeks, which unite to form Goldstream Creek near Gilmore, about 
12 miles north of Fairbanks. 

Along Pedro Creek the pay streak follows the stream channel 
closely and bed rock is from 10 to 80 feet below the surface. On 
Goldstream Creek the pay streak is along the right bank to about claim 
10 below and then swings to the left bank, which it follows to about 
claim 22 below. Farther than this it has not been definitely located. 
The depth to bed rock ranges from 20 to 60 feet. 

Gilmore Creek, the left fork of Goldstream Creek, has shown small 
values and very little work is in progress. The creek has a fairly 
good grade and drains an area of 11.8 square miles. 

Goldstream Creek receives numerous small tributaries from both 
sides. From the right come Fox, Gold Run, Big Eldorado, O'Connor, 
and Cache creeks; from the left, Engineer, Butter, Spear, Nugget, 
Straight, and Allen creeks. Prospecting and more or less mining is 
done on nearly all these creeks. They are from 4 to 12 miles long 
and drain small areas. 

On the upper portion of Goldstream Creek and along Pedro Creek 
several small ditches have been built to divert water for sluicing. 
The largest ditch is owned by the Goldstream Ditch Company and 



THE FAIEBANKS DISTEICT. 



43 



its construction cost about $6,500. It is about 2 miles long and has 
a fall of about 7 feet to the mile. It diverts water from claim 6 
below, along the left bank of Goldstream Creek, and supplies several 
mines at the rate of $2 per hour per sluice head, which ranges from 
60 to 80 miner's inches of water. A measurement made June 28, 
1907, in the lower end of a flume near the intake to this ditch gave a 
discharge of 10.8 second-feet. A short extension was made to this 
ditch in 1908 and it now supplies water to mines as far as claim 16 
below. 

GOLDSTREAM CREEK AT CLAIM 6 BELOW. 



A good location for a gaging station could not be found on Gold- 
stream Creek because of the unfavorable condition of the channel 
and the numerous small ditches that divert the flow. A gage was 
established, however, near the lower line of claim 6 below, a short 
distance above the intake to the Goldstream ditch, June 20, 1907, 
and war read twice each day by John L. Meder. The water diverted 
by a small ditch a short distance above the gaging station is not 
considered in the table of estimates. Several measurements made 
in this ditch gave an average discharge of 1.5 second-feet. 

Discharge measurements of Goldstream Creek at claim 6 below, 1907. 





Date. 


Width. 


Area of 
section. 


Gage 
height. 


Discharge. 


June 21 




Feet. 
11.3 


Sq.ft. 
8.1 
10.3 


Feet. 
1.00 
1.31 


Sec-feet. 
10.8 


June 28 




12. 4 


21.1 







Daily mean gage height and estimated discharge of Goldstream Creek at claim 6 below, 

1907. 



[Elevation, 


870 feet; 


drainage area, 


28.6 square miles.] 










June. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


October. 


Day. 


® 

bjO 

O 


a5 

5 


S 


O 

s 


'S 


Sh 

03 

5 


.§ 
3 
-d 

S, 

O 


6 

■s 

s 


© . 

SiO 
c3 

O 


03 

•S 


1 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


Feet. 
1.3 
1.05 
1.0 

.95 

.8 

. 75 
1.15 
1.05 
1.0 

.85 

1.6 
1. 55 
1.2 
1.1 
1.65 


Sec.-ft. 

20.7 

12.3 

10.8 

9.3 

4.9 

3.6 
15.4 
12.3 
10.8 

6.4 

32.2 
30.2 
17.1 
13.8 
34.4 


Feet. 

1.55 

1.6 

1.3 

1.15 

1.1 

1.15 

1.4 

1.45 

1.35 

1.6 

1.45 

1.15 

1.1 

1.05 

1.05 


Sec.-ft. 
30.2 
32.2 
20.7 
15.4 
13.8 

15.4 
24.4 
26.3 
22.5 
32.2 

26.3 
15.4 
13.8 
12.3 
12.3 


Feet. 
1.25 
1.20 
1.20 
1.25 
1.30 

1.2 

1.2 

1.15 

1.2 

1.15 

1.35 

1.7 

1.7 

1.5 

1.5 


Sec.-ft. 
18.9 
17.1 
17.1 
18.9 
20.7 

17.1 
17.1 
15.4 
17.1 
15.4 

22.5 
36.6 
36.6 
28.2 
28.2 


Feet. 
1.3 
1.3 
1.4 
1.3 
1.3 

1.3 
1.2 


Sec.-ft. 
20.7 


2 






20.7 


3 






24.4 


4 






20.7 


5 






20.7 


6 






20.7 


7 






17.1 


8 








9 






; 


10 










11 


• 








12 










13 










14 










15 











44 



WATER Iisr YUKON-TANANA REGION, 1907-1908. 



Daily mean gage height and estimated discharge of Goldstream Creek at claim 6 helow, 

i907— Continued. 





June. 


July. 


Au 


gust. 


September. 


October. 


Day. 


-i-5 

s 


6 

to 


4J 

bX) 

a 
O 


0) 
be 


S 

bJO 

a 
O 


i 

5 


-1-5 

o 


S 


-1-5 

-a 

s 

a 
O 


s 


16 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


Feet. 

1.5 

1.25 

1.15 

1.05 

1.05 

1.0 
.95 
.9 

1.05 
.95 

.95 

.85 

.85 

.8 

.8 

.7 


Sec.-ft. 
28.2 
18.9 
15.4 
12.3 
12.3 

10.8 
9.3 
7.8 

12.3 
9.3 

9.3 
6.4 
6.4 
4.9 
4.9 
2.2 


Feet. 

1.1 

1.0 

1.0 

1.0 

1.1 

1.25 

1.3 

1.3 

1.3 

1.25 

1.35 

1.3 

1.35 

1.45 

1.5 

1.5 


Sec.-ft. 
13.8 
10.8 
10.8 
10.8 
13.8 

18.9 
20.7 
20.7 
20.7 
18.9 

22.5 
20.7 
22.5 
26.3 
28.2 
28.2 


Feet. 

1.8 

1.55 

1.45 

1.3 

1.6 

1.45 

1.4 

1.55 

1.45 

1.4 

1.4- 

1.3 

1.25 

1.35 

1.4 


Sec.-ft. 
41 

30.2 
26.3 
20.7 
32.2 

26.3 
24.4 
30.2 
26.3 
■ 24.4 

24.4 
20.7 
18.9 
22.5 
24.4 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


17 










18 










19 










20 


1.0 

1.0 
.95 
.8 
.9 
.9 

1.05 
.85 
1.3 
1.55 
1.45 


10.8 

10.8 
9.3 
4.9 

7.8 
7.8 

12.3 
6.4 
20.7 
30.2 
26.3 






21. 






22. 






23. 






24 






25 






26 






27- 






28 






29 






30. 






31 




















Mean 




13.4 
.469 
.192 




13.1 
.458 
.53 




20.0 
.699 
.81 




24.0 
.839 
.94 




20.7 


Mean square mile 




.724 


Run-off, depth in inches .... 




.19 









Note. — These discharges do not include the amount diverted at claim 3 below by a small ditch, carry- 
ing from 1 to 1.5 second-feet. The creek was frozen after October 7. 

PEDRO CREEK. 

Pedro Creek, the right fork of Goldstream Creek, is about 6 miles 
long and has a fall of 100 to 200 feet to the mile in its upper course. 
About 3 miles from its source Twin Creek, a tributary from the 
right, enters. Here in 1902 gold was first found in the Fairbanks 
district by Felix Pedro. Below this point the creek has a grade of 
about 80 feet to the mile, which gradually lessens as it approaches 
Goldstream Creek. The following measurement was made at claim 1 
above July 22, 1908: Discharge, 3.2 second-feet; drainage area, 6.3 
square miles; discharge per square mile, 0.508 second-foot. 



FOX CREEK. 

Fox Creek rises in the Chatanika divide opposite Vault Creek. It 
is about 3 1 miles long and flows southward through a V-shaped valley 
into Goldstream Creek. Considerable mining activity was under way 
in 1908. The following measurements were made at elevation 900 
feet: July 6, 1907, 2.0 second-feet; August 24, 1908, 0.43 second-foot. 



THE FAIEBANKS DISTRICT. 



45 



WASHINGTON CREEK DRAINAGE BASIN. 
GENERAL DESCRIPTION. 

Washington Creek rises in the southern slope of the dividing ridge 
south of Beaver Creek drainage, and flows southwestward into 
Tatahna Eiver about 12 miles above the confluence of that stream 
with the Tolovana. It paraUels the Chatanika, from which it is 
separated at a distance of about 6 miles, by a high dividing ridge. 
The creek is about 35 miles long and drains an area of 198 square 
miles. It is sho>;\Ti on the reconnaissance map of the Fairbanks 
quadrangle. 

The vaUey is long and narrow, is well timbered, and is bordered 
on each side by high ridges, portions of which are from 1,200 to 1,800 
feet above the stream bed. 

Late in the fall of 1907 rumors of a strike on Washington Creek 
attracted some attention and during the winter of 1907-8 consider- 
able work was done on this creek, not only in prospecting, but in 
staking new ground. The summer of 1908 found the creek staked 
from its headwaters to within a few miles of its mouth. 

Aggie Creek, which enters Wasliington Creek about 12 miles above 
its mouth, is its only important tributary. This stream is about 12 
miles long and drains an area of 35.8 square miles. 

A fall of about 200 feet in 8 miles on Washington Creek below 
Aggie Creek affords opportunity for power development. In 1908 
the break-up on Washington Creek occurred about May 5, but there 
was considerable ice in the stream until after May 9, and the water 
could not have been used in a diverting ditch imtil about May 20. 

WASHINGTON CREEK ABOVE AGGIE CREEK. 

This station was established May 23, 1908, about 500 feet above 
the mouth of Aggie Creek, on the left-hand side of the stream. The 
gage, kno^^TL as gage No. 2, was fastened to a wooden trestle under 
the footbridge constructed for high-water measurements. The 
bench mark is the top of a stake about 6 inches above groimd, 10 feet 
from low-water mark on the left-hand side of the stream, and 4 feet 
above gage datum. 

Discharge measurements of Washington Creek above Aggie Creek, 1908. 



Date. 



Gage 
height. 



May 23 
May 24 
July 27 



Feet. 
3.65 
3.60 
2.08 



Discharge. 



Sec.-feet. 
311.0 
304.0 

18.2 



Date. 



July 28... 
August 19 . 



Gage 
height. 



Discharge. 



Feet. 
2.10 
2.10 



Sec-feet. 
19.3 
17.3 



46 



WATER IN YUKON-TANANA REGION, 1907-1908. 



Daily mean gage height and estimated discharge of Washington Creek above Aggie Creek, 

1908. 





[Elevation, 


600 feet; 


drainage area, 117 square miles.] 










Majo 


June. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
heiglit. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


1 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


Feet. 
3.45 
3.22 
3.00 
2.95 
2.82 

3.38 
3.38 
3.08 
2.90 

2.68 

2.55 

2.48 
2.62 
2.62 
4.50 

3.75 
3.32 
3.00 
3.20 
3.22 

3.10 
3.78 
3.12 

2.82 
2.60 

2.40 
2.42 


Sec.-ft. 
206 
203 
146 
135 
109 

245 
245 
163 
124 
82 

63 
54 

74 

74 

557 

342 
231 
146 
196 
203 

170 
359 
176 
109 
70 

45 
48 
48 
48 
48 


Feet. 

"""ilo" 

2.40 

2.35 
2.40 
2.50 
2.55 
2.45 

2.38 
2.32 
2.20 
2.20 
2.25 

2.20 
2.20 
2.22 
2.22 
2.20 

2.20 
2.18 
2.10 
2.15 
2.15 

2.15 
2.15 
2.20 
2.22 
2.15 
2.15 


Sec.-ft. 
45 
45 
45 
45 
45 

40 
45 
57 
63 
51 

43 
37 
26 
26 
30 

26 
26 
28 
28 
26 

26 

24 
18 
22 
22 

22 
22 
26 
28 
22 
22 


Feet. 
2.15 
2.18 
2.25 
2.20 
2.20 

2.18 
2.15 
2.15 
2.15 
2.15 

2.15 
2.15 
2.15 
2.15 
2.15 

2.15 
2.15 
2.20 
2.15 
2.22 

2.20 
2.22 
2.22 
2.20 
2.15 

2.20 
2.20 
2.20 
2.25 
2.25 
2.20 


Sec.-ft. 
22 
24 
30 
26 
26 

24 
22 
22 
22 
22 

22 
22 
22 
22 
22 

22 
22 
26 
22 
28 

26 
28 
28 
26 
22 

26 
26 
26 
30 
30 
26 


Feet. 
2.25 
2.32 
2.58 
2.80 


Sec -ft. 
30 


2 






38 


3 






67 


4 






104 


5.. 








6 










7 










8 










9 










10 










11 










12 










13 










14 










15 










16 










17 










18 










19 










20 










21 










22 










23 


3.65 
3.65 
3.45 

3.20 
3.15 
3.35 
3.50 
4.00 
3.75 


310 
316 
266 

196 
183 
236 
278 
408 
342 






24 






25 






26 






27 




28 




29 


1 


30 


1 


31 
















282 

2.41 

.81 




159 
1.36 
1.52 




33.2 

.284 

.33 




24.6 

.210 

24 





59.8 


Mean per square 




.512 


Run-off, depth in 
inches 




.08 











WASHINGTON CREEK BELOW AGGIE CREEK. 

This station was established May 5, 1908, by E. J. Burger for Martin 
Harrais, manager of the Chena Lumber and Light Company, of 
Chena, to determine the possibiHty of using the stream for the devel- 
opment of power. Gage No. 1, first installed, was replaced May 24 
by gage No. 4, which is located about 500 feet below the mouth of 
Aggie Creek, on the left bank, and is referred to a spike driven in a 
notch cut at the base of the stream side of a cottonwood tree about 10 
inches in diameter and 10 feet back from the edge of the bank; the top 
of the spike is 9.9 feet above the gage datum. 

Theoretically the discharge at gage No. 4 should represent the totals 
at Nos. 2 and 3, but this is not always the case, for during high water a 
small stream from the left bank discharges between the gages, and in 



THE FAIRBANKS DISTRICT. 



47 



the low-water period there is more or less seepage through the gravel. 
The records check very closely, however, and probably give very nearly 
the actual discharge of the creek during the season. 

Discharge measurements of. Washington Creek below Aggie Creek, 1908. 



Date. 



May 23 
May 24 
July 27 



Gage 
height. 



Feet. 
3.30 
3.35 
1.80 



Discharge. 



Sec-feet. 
419 
440 
25.8 



Date. 



Gage 
height. 



July 28... 
August 18 
August 19 



Feet. 
1.85 
1.80 
1.80 



Discharge. 



Sec-feet. 
21. Q 
25.9 
25.6 



Daily mean gage height and estimated discharge of Washington Creek beloiu Aggie Creek, 

1908. 

[Elevation, 600 feet; drainage area, 147 square miles.] 





May .a 


June. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


1 ". 


Feet. 


Sec-ft. 


Feet. 
3.12 
3.00 
2.75 
2.70 
2.62 

2.98 
2.96 
2.78 
2.64 
2.45 

2.32 
2.25 
2.38 
2.42 
3.66 

3.18 
2.91 
2.68 
2.82 
2.84 

2.75 
3.22 
2.76 
2.52 
2.30 

2.10 
2.15 


Sec-ft. 
332 
284 
185 
166 
141 

279 
274 
194 
149 
104 

80 
70 
89 
98 
600 

360 
246 
160 
210 
218 

185 
375 
188 
118 

77 

52 
58 
56 
56 
56 


Feet. 

"'2.'i6' 
2.10 

2.05 
2.11 
2.24 
2.30 
2.18 

2.18 
2.05 
1.86 
1.85 
1.92 

1.87 
1.87 
1.91 
1.91 
1.88 

1.85 
1.83 
1.75 
1.82 
1.81 

1.80 
1.80 
1.90 
1.90 
1.79 
1.78 


Sec-ft. 
53 
53 
53 
52 
52 

48 
53 
69 
88 
61 

61 
48 
33 
32 
37 

34 
34 
36 
36 
34 

32 
30 
24 
30 
29 

28 
28 
35 
35 
27 
26 


Feet. 
1.80 
1.84 
1.92 
1.86 
1.85 

1.80 
1.80 
1.80 
1.80 
1.80 

1.80 
1.80 
1.80 
1.80 
1.80 

1.80 
1.80 
1.85 
1.80 
1.88 

1.85 
1.88 
1.88 
1.85 
1.80 

1.86 
1.86 
1.86 
1.92 
1.92 
1.86 


Sec-ft. 
28 
31 
37 
33 
32 

28 
28 
28 
28 
28 

28 
28 
28 
28 
28 

28 
28 
32 
28 
34 

32 
34 
34 
32 

28 

33 
33 
33 
37 
37 
33 


Feet. 
1.95 
2.06 
2.32 
2.55 


Sec-ft. 
38 


2 






49 


3 






82 


4 






124 


5 




840 

720 
760 
880 
920 
1,200 

760 

688 

1,120 

1,160 

1,400 

1,280 
1,240 
1,160 
1,040 
1,120 

840 
490 
328 
440 
352 

250 
234 
310 
370 
525 
465 




6 








7 








8 








9 








10 






11 






12 




1 


13 






14 




1 


15 




■ 


16 








17 








18 








19 








20 








21 








22 








23 


3.10 
3.35 
3.18 

2.92 
2.88 
3.06 
3.20 
3.52 
3.40 






24 






25 






26 






27 






28 






29 






30 






31 
















Mean 




774 

5.26 

5.28 


182 
1.23 
1.37 


:::: 


41.3 

. .281 

.324 




30.8 

.210 

.24 




73.1 


Mean per square 
mile 




.498 


Run-off, depth in 
inches 




.07 



o Discharges from May 5 to 22, inclusive, are based on readings from gage No, 1, and on account of 
unfavorable channel conditions are approximate. 



48 



WATER IIT YUKOl^-TANANA EEGION, 1907-1908. 



AGGIE CREEK AT MOUTH. 

This station was established May 23, 1908. The gage, known as 

^'gage No. 3," is located on the right bank about 1,000 feet above the 

mouth of the stream. It is referred to a spike driven in the top of a 

stump about 5 feet farther downstream on the same side; the top of 

the spike is 6.10 feet above the datum of the gage. 

Discharge vneasurements of Aggie Creek at mouthy 1908. 



Date. 



Gage 
height. 



May 23 
May 24 
July 27 



Feet. 
2.92 
3.29 
.95 



Discharge. 



Sec-feet. 
108.0 
136.0 
6.3 



Date. 



July 28... 
August 19. 



Gage 
height. 



Discharge. 



Feet. 
1.09 
.90 



Sec-feet. 
8.8 
7.0 



Daily mean gage height and estimated discharge of Aggie Creek at mouth, 1908. 
[Elevation, 600 feet; drainage area, 35.8 square miles.] 





Ma5\ 


June. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


+.2 


1 

5 


^-2 




+.5 


be 


4J 


Si 


i 

03 

O 


o5 

1 


1 . . 


Feet. 


Sec-ft. 


Feet. 
2.30 
2.50 
1.80 
1.72 
1.80 

1.78 
1.65 
1.75 
1.58 
1.47 

1.40 
1.38 
1.32 
1.55 
1.90 

1.50 
1.35 
1.30 
1.30 
1.30 

1.30 
1.35 
1.17 
1.15 
1.05 

1.07 
1.02 


Sec-ft. 
65 
79 
36 
31 
36 

34 

28 
34 
24 
20 

17 
16 
14 
23 
41 

21 
16 
14 
14 
14 

14 
16 
11 
10 
8.0 

8.5 
7.8 
7.8 
7.8 
7.8 


Feet. 

'i'.bb' 

1.00 

1.02 
1.05 
1.17 
1.30 
1.07 

1.10 

1.02 

.98 

.98 

.98 

1.02 
1.02 
1.00 
1.00 
1.00 

1.00 
.95 
.95 

1.00 
.98 

.95 
.95 
1.05 
.98 
.88 
.85 


Sec-ft. 
7.5 
7.5 
7.5 

7.5 
7.5 

7.8 

8.0 

11.0 

14.0 

9.5 

9.0 
7.8 
7.0 
7.0 
7.0 

7.8 
7.8 
7.5 
7.5 
7.5 

7.5 
6.5 
6.5 
7.5 
7.0 

6.5 
6.5 
8.0 
7.0 
5.0 
4.5 


Feet. 

.92 

1.00 

1.00 

.98 

.95 

.92 
.90 
.90 
.90 
.90 

.90 
.90 
.90 
.90 
.90 

.90 
.90 
.90 
.90 
.90 

.90 
.90 
.90 
.90 
.90 

.95 
.95 
.95 
.95 
.95 
.95 


Sec-ft. 
6 2 
7.5 
7.5 
7.0 
6.5 

6.2 
6.0 
6.0 
6.0 
6.0 

6.0 
6.0 
6.0 
6.0 
6.0 

6.0 
6.0 
6.0 
6.0 
6.0 

6.0 
6.0 
6.0 
6.0 
6.0 

6.5 
6.5 
6.5 
6.5 
6.5 
6.5 


Feet. 
1.08 
1.18 
1<30 
1^35 


Sec-ft. 
8.5 


2 






10.6 


3 






14.0 


4 






16.0 


5 








6 










7 










8 










9 










10... 










11... . 










12 










13 










14 










15 










16 










17 










18 . 










19.. .. 










20 










21 










22 










23 


2.90 
3.15 
2.60 

2.06 
2.05 
2.40 
2.67 
3 02 
3.12 


107 
125 

86 

50 
50 
72 
91 
116 
123 






24 






25.- 






26 






27 






28 






29 






30 






31 
















Mean 




91.2 

2.55 

.85 




22.5 

.629 

.70 




7.58 

.211 

.24 




6.26 

.174 

.20 




12.2 


Mean i)er square mile 




.341 


Run-ofi, depth in inches 




.05 









THE FAIRBANKS DISTRICT. 49 

BEAVER CREEK DRAINAGE BASIN. 
GENERAL DESCRIPTION. 

A high limestone ridge — the White Mountains — 50 miles north 
of Fairbanks, is perhaps the highest portion of the divide between 
the Yukon and Tanana drainage basins. Beaver Creek, which drains 
the largest part of this particular portion of the divide, has its source 
far back in the deep canyons of the southern slope. There are two 
branches of Beaver Creek in its upper drainage basin that join at 
about latitude 65° 25' north, and longitude 147° west. These two 
branches drain the highest portion of the mountains. The southern 
branch rises in a high ridge opposite the tributaries of Preacher 
Creek. It has a steep and tortuous course, flowing over a rocky 
bed and through a deep valley. The northern or main branch of 
Beaver Creek drains to the south the central portion of the moun- 
tain ridge. The gorgelik© valley of the upper portion of this branch 
runs in an east-west direction and forms with the main valley a letter 
T. The course of the northern branch is tortuous and the bed is 
rough and gravelly. In the valley at the junction of these two 
branches some timber is found, and there are also small patches of 
meadow land. From the junction the main stream flows westward 
for about 25 miles, then makes an abrupt bend to the right and 
flows in a northeasterly direction, draining the northern slope of the 
White Mountains. Its course above the ^'big bend" is through a 
rather broad, parklike valley, over a wide gravelly bed, in a series of 
riffles and pools. This portion of the stream, with its tributaries, 
drains the southern slope of the White Mountains. In many places 
the stream has several channels, forming numerous islands which are 
usually covered with a heavy growth of timber. 

Bear and Bryan creeks are the important tributaries from the right. 
High, barren limestone ridges separate these creeks and form deep, 
narrow, gorgelike valleys, through which the streams flow over pre- 
cipitous, narrow beds. 

There is but little timber on the slopes of the mountains except in 
the lower course of the stream, and here the average size is smaller 
than that of the timber in the Chatanika and Little Chena basins. 

The southern tributaries of Beaver Creek above the big bend are 
Nome, Ophir, Trail, and Wickersham creeks, whose upper portions 
drain the dividing ridge to the north of Chatanika River. These 
streams have more gradual slopes than the northern tributaries, and 
flow through rather narrow channels cut deep into the soft, alluvial 
soil of which their bottom lands consist. The ridges separating these 
creeks are at a much lower elevation than those on the northern slope. 

81007— iRR 228—09 4 



50 WATER IN YUKON-TANANA REGION, 1907-1908. 

They are covered with timber and the many small streams which 
drain their slopes are fed by numerous springs. The general direc- 
tion of these streams, with the exception of Nome Creek, is to the 
northwest — a course almost opposite that of the main creek which 
receives their black, tranquil waters. 

The upper portion of the Beaver Creek drainage basin is oval in 
shape and rises to an elevation of 1,800 to 4,000 feet. A portion of 
the easterly divide has an altitude of 5,000 feet. About 8 miles below 
the ^^big bend" Fossil Creek enters Beaver Creek from the right 
through a deep, narrow canyon. It drains a long, narrow, rather high 
valley and rises on the northern slope of Cache Mountain, which has 
an elevation of over 4,000 feet and separates the Fossil Creek drainage 
basin from that of Bryan Creek. Fossil Creek flows northward for 5 
or 6 miles, makes a long, easy curve to the left, flows around the 
northern foothills, and finally takes a southwesterly course close to 
the high limestone ridge that separates it from Beaver Creek. 

In the upper portion of the Fossil Creek basin, on the right-hand 
side, there is a marked case of stream piracy. A small stream reaches 
into the right-hand part of the basin and takes a portion of the drain- 
age through a gorge of high elevation into Beaver Creek, about 12 
miles below the mouth of Fossil Creek. 

Victoria Creek, a tributary from the left about 20 miles below 
Fossil Creek, has its source nearly opposite Cache Mountain and is 
separated from Beaver Creek, which it parallels for about 50 xniles^ 
by a limestone ridge ranging from 1,000 to nearly 3,000 feet above 
the bed of the stream. 

Some distance below the mouth of Victoria Creek, Beaver Creek 
changes its course to the left and flows in a northwesterly direction 
through a less mountainous country to the Yukon. 

Beaver Creek has every indication of furnishing a good water sup- 
ply. Its high drainage basin makes its waters desirable for either 
hydraulicking or power development. Although the present location 
of the mining camps is at a prohibitive distance for ditch lines, future 
developments may make valuable any information concerning the 
daily flow and run-ofl^ in this drainage basin. 

MEASUREMENTS. 

The following miscellaneous measurements were made in Beaver 
Creek drainage basin: 



THE CIKCLE DISTRICT. 51 

Miscellaneous measurements in Beaver Creek drainage basin, 1907-1908. 



Date. 



1907. 
August 27 

Do... 
August 28 
August 29 
August 30 

Do... 

Do... 



1908. 
August 11. 
August 12. 
August 11. 
August 12 . 

Do.... 

Do.... 



Stream and locality. 



Trail Creek 

Brigham Creek 

Fossil Creek 

Bryan Creek 

Beaver Creek above East Branch 

East Branch Beaver Creek above mouth 
Nome Creek near mouth 

Beaver Creek above East Branch 

Beaver Creek above Nome Creek 

East Branch of Beaver Creek at mouth. 

Nome Creek near mouth 

Nome Creek above Ophir Creek 

Ophir Creek near mouth 



Approxi- 
mate 


Drainage 


Discharge. 


elevation. 






Feet. 


Sq. miles. 


Sec.-ft. 


1,700 


27 


39.9 


1,500 


15 


16.0 


1,300 
1,800 




19.2 
75.3 


48 


1,800 


122 


267 


1,800 


67 


124 


1,700 


120 


135 


1,800 


122 


80.3 


1,675 


226 


108 


1,800 


67 


44.3 


1,700 


120 


33.6 


1,725 


87 


26.0 


1,725 


33 


2.0 



Discharge 

per square 

mile. 



Sec.-ft. 
1.48 
1.06 



1.57 
2.19 
1.85 
1.12 



.658 

.478 
.661 
.280 
.299 
.066 



THE CIRCLE DISTRICT. 

DESCRIPTION OF AREA. 

The area to the north of the Yukon-Tanana divide, between lati- 
tude 143° 40' and 146° 50', is known as the Birch Creek region of the 
Circle district. Generally speaking, it occupies two geographic divi- 
sions — a low, broad, alluvial plain and a high plateau. 

The northwest portion of the low broad plain forms the bottom 
lands of the Yukon Flats north of Crazy Mountains; the southeast 
portion occupies an irregular area surrounded by a low ridge along 
the Yukon, the Crazy Mountains, and the range of hills 20 to 40 miles 
farther south. This portion is cut by Birch and Crooked creeks; it 
is well timbered along these streams and contains large areas of 
meadow-like swamp land that furnish forage for both summer and 
winter use. 

The plateau division, whose longest diameter is east and west, 
occupies a position between two distinct ridges — the eastern exten- 
sions of the White Mountains. The ridge to the south is high and 
barren and forms the main Yukon-Tanana divide; that to the north 
is lower, irregular, and barren, and separates the upper tributaries of 
Birch Creek drainage from the lower, and it is itself divided by the 
deep canyon-like gorge through which Birch Creek flows on its way 
to the Yukon. 

At elevations of 2,000 feet or more above sea level the country is 
as a rule barren and rocky, while below this altitude, especially in the 
flats where Birch and Crooked creeks join, considerable timber is 
found. These flats afford conditions particularly favorable to agri- 
culture as well as to mining. At Central House, on the lower end of 
Deadwobd Creek, and at the Hot Sulphur Springs all kinds of vege- 



52 WATER IN YUKON-TANANA REGION, 1907-1908. 

tables grow in abundance ; and prospecting at the lower end of Dead- 
wood Creek shows an extensive area of ground which seems suitable 
for dredging. 

Circle, about 140 miles below Eagle, on the left bank of the Yukon, 
is the supply point for mines in this region, which are reached by 
sleds in winter and by pack train in summer. It is at Circle that 
the overland trail to the Fairbanks district, south of the divide, starts. 
In 1908 the Alaska Road Commission constructed about 20 miles of 
good wagon road along this trail, and expects to continue it to Miller 
House during the coming season. ' 

GAGING STATIONS. 

The following is a list of the points in the Circle district at which 
gages were established or measurements made in 1908. The numbers 
refer to Plate IV. 

Gaging stations in Circle district, 1908. 

1. Birch Creek at Fourteenmile House. 

2. North Fork of Birch Creek above Twelvemile Creek and Twelvemile Creek at 

mouth. 

3. North Fork of Birch Creek below Twelvemile Creek. 

4. Eagle Creek below Mastodon Fork. 

5. Eagle Creek below Cripple Creek. 

6. Eagle Creek at mouth. 

7. Miller Fork above ditch intake and Miller Fork ditch at intake. 

8. Mastodon Fork above storage dam and Miller Fork ditch at outlet. 

9. Ptarmigan Creek at mouth. 

10. Tributary of North Fork of Birch Creek. 

11. Twelvemile Creek at elevation of 2,500 feet. 

12. Twelvemile Creek above East Fork. 

13. East Fork of Twelvemile Creek near mouth. 

14. Harrison Creek at elevation 2,200 feet. 

15. North Fork of Harrison Creek at elevation 2,200 feet. 

16. Crooked Creek at Central House. 

17. Mammoth Creek at Miller House. 

18. Mastodon Creek at claim 21 above, 

19. Mastodon Creek at claim 1 above. 

20. Independence Creek near mouth. 

21. Miller Creek near mouth. 

22. Porcupine Creek near proposed ditch intake. 

23. Porcupine Creek below Bonanza Creek. 

24. Bonanza Creek at ditch intake. 

25. Boulder Creek near mouth. 

26. Deadwood Creek above Switch Creek. 

27. Switch Creek at mouth. 

28. Albert Creek at trail crossing. 

29. Quartz Creek at trail crossing. 



U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 



WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 228 PLATE iV 




U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 




MAP SHOWING LOCATION OF GAGING STATIONS IN CIRCLE DISTRICT. 



THE CIKCLE DISTKICT. 



53 



BIRCH CREEK DRAINAGE BASIN. 
GENERAL DESCRIPTION. 

Birch Creek, with its tributaries, North and South forks, and 
their many ramifying branches, drains the southern part of the 
plateau country of the Circle district. 

Crooked and Preacher creeks, wliich join Birch Creek in its lower 
course, drain the north slope of the ridge which separates the upper 
from the lower Birch Creek drainage, the Crazy Mountains, and a 
large portion of the broad alluvial plain. The main stream rises east 
of the headwaters of Chatanika River, and flows eastward to within 
less than 20 miles of the Yukon; it then turns to the north and flows 
roughly parallel to the main river to its mouth below Fort Yukon. 

BIRCH CREEK AT FOURTEENMILE HOUSE. 

A gaging station was estabhshed on Birch Creek at Fourteenmile 
House June 27, 1908. A post gage, graduated to feet and tenths 
and driven firmly in the ground on the left bank, was read twice each 
da}^ during the remainder of the season by WiUiam Reger, road-house 
keeper and ferryman. Measurements are made from a ferry estab- 
hshed by the Alaska Road Commission. Birch Creek at this point 
has a straight course for nearly 1,000 feet above and below the gage. 
The bed is gravelly and permanent. The left bank is steep and is 
seldom flooded except in extreme high water. The right bank is 
lower, somewhat timbered, and is more frequently overflowed. 

Discharge measurements of Birch Creek at Fourteenmile House, 1908. 



Date. 



June 27 

Tune 28 

September 11 
September 12 



Area of 


Mean 


Gage 


section. 


velocity. 


heighth. 


Sq. feet. 


Ft. per sec. 


Feet. 


655 


1.62 


3.17 


653 


1.60 


3.07 


960 


2.15 


4.00 


870 


1.97 


3.82 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec-feet. 
1,0G0 
1,040 
2,060 
1,710 



Daily mean gage height and estimated discharge of Birch Creek at Fourteenmile House, 1908. 
[Elevation, 700 feet; drainage area, 2,160 square miles.] 





June. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge 


1 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


Feet. 
3.38 
3.10 
3.00 
3.32 
3.05 

2.98 
3.15 
3.92 
4.30 
4.22 


Sec.-ft. 
1,210 
1,040 
990 
1,170. 
1,010 

984 
1,060 
1,900 
2, 630 
2,470 


Feet. 
2.62 
2.55 
2.50 
2.50 
2.50 

2.48 
2.45 
2.40 
2.42 
3.52 


Sec.-ft. 
875 
859 

847 
847 
847 

842 
835 
825 
829 
1,320 


Feet. 
3.58 
3.70 
4.08 
5. 55 
6.02 

5.75 
5.25 
5.02 
4.85 
4.32 


Sec.-ft. 
1,400 


2 . 






1,550 


3 






2,210 


4 






5,130 


5. 






6,070 


6 






5,530 


7 .. 






4,530 


8 






4,070 


9 






3,730 


10 






2,670 



54 



WATEK IN YUKON-TANANA EEGION, 1907-1908. 



Daily mean gage height and estimated dischaxge of Birch Creek at Fourteenmile House, 

i90<?— Continued. 





June. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


11 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


Feet. 
3.75 
3.45 
3.28 
3.12 
3.02 

3.02 
3.10 
3.05 
3.00 
2.92 

2.82 
2.72 
2.62 
2.58 
2.52 

2.50 

2.62 
2.65 
2.62 

2.eo 

2.65 


Sec.-ft. 
1,620 
1,270 
1,140 
1,040 
1,000 

1,000 

1,040 

1,010 

990 

966 

936 
906 

875 
867 
852 

847 
875 
885 
875 
872 
885 


Feet. 
3.45 
3.25 
3.12 
3.00 
2.92 

2.90 
2.85 
2.88 
2.90 
2.95 

3.00 
3.18 
3.70 
3.55 
3.45 

3.45 
3.42 
3.35 
3.52 
3.82 
3.68 


Sec.-ft. 

1,270 

1,-120 

1,040 

990 

966 

960 
945 
954 
9:')0 
975 

990 
1,080 
1,550 
1,360 
1,270 

1,270 
1,250 
1,190 
1,330 
1,620 
1,520 


Feet. 
4.00 
3.88 
3.72 
3.68 
3.65 

3. CO 
3.55 
3.55 

3.62 
3.72 

3.62 
3.52 
3.35 
3.18 
3.08 

3.00 
2.88 
2.78 
2.70 


Sec.-ft. 
2,0(0 


12 






1,830 


13 






1,580 


14 






1,520 


15 







1,480 


16 






1,420 


17 






1,310 


18 






1,360 


19 






1,440 


20 




1,580 


21 






1,440 


22 






1,320 


23 






1,190 


24 






1,080 


25 






1,030 


26 


3.35 
3.20 
3.10 
3.08 
3.20 


1,190 
1,090 
1,040 
1,020 
1,090 


990 


27 


954 


28 


924 


29 


900 


30 




31 














Mean 




1,090 

.507 

.09 




1,140 

.530 

.61 




1,080 

.502 

.58 


2,150 


Mean per square mile 




1.00 


Run-off, deptli in inches 




1.08 









Note. — The creek was frozen after September 29. 



NORTH FORK OF BIRCH CREEK. 

North Fork of Birch Creek is formed by the confluence of Eagle 
and Ptarmigan creeks and flows south westward through an unsymmet- 
rical valley, flanked on both sides by high precipitous ridges, those 
to the north rising to an elevation of 2,000 feet to 2,500 feet above 
the stream bed in a distance of 5 to 6 miles. 

Considerable timber, a large portion of which has reached a size 
suitable for milling, grows along the creek bottom. About 8 miles 
below Eagle Creek, North Fork turns abruptly to the left, and 
Twelvemile Creek, a tributary from the right, enters. The grade of 
these two streams above this point ranges from 75 feet to over 100 
feet to the mile. 

Much prospecting has been done, especially on Twelvemile Creek, 
where bed rock lies from 12 to 20 feet below surface, but on account 
of underground water very little is known of the bed rock conditions. 
North Fork enters Birch Creek about 8 miles below Twelvemile. 

Eagle Creek is formed by the confluence of Miller and Mastodon 
forks, which drain the western slope of the high ridge connecting 
Mastodon and Porcupine domes, whose eastern drainage is carried 



THE CIRCLE DISTRICT. 



55 



into Miller and Mastodon creeks. The creek is about 4 miles long 
and, with Ptarmigan, forms the North Fork of Birch Creek. Gold 
was discovered on Eagle Creek in 1895, and much work has been done 
at its upper end and on Mastodon Fork. In 1908 Berry and Lamb 
completed the installation of a hydraulic plant. (See PL V, A.) 

The following measurements were made of North Fork and its 
tributaries: 

Miscellaneous measurements of North Fork of Birch Creeh and tributaries, 1908. 



Date. 



July 10 

September 4. 

July9 

July 10 

September 6. 

July? 

July 9 

September 5. 
September 6. 

Do 

Do 

July? 

September 6. 

July 9 

September 5. 
Julv9 



Stream and locality. 



North Fork of Birch Creek above Twelvemile Creek. 
do 



July 10 

July 11 

Do 

Do 

September 4. 

July 10 

Septeinber 4. 



North Fork of Birch Creek below Twelvemile Creek. 
do 



Eagle Creek below Mastodon Fork. 
Eagle Creek below Cripple Creek. . 

Eagle Creek at mouth 

do 



Miller Fork of Eagle Creek above ditch intake 

Miller Fork ditch at intake 

Miller Fork ditch at outlet 

Mastodon Fork of Eagle Creek above storage dam. 
do 



Ptarmigan Creek at mouth. 
do 



Drainage 
area. 



Sq. miles. 
87 
87 
-132 
132 
- 8.4 
12 A 
15.5 
15.5 
2.6 



Dis- 
charge. 



Tributary of North Fork of Birch Creek from north near 

mouth. 
Twelvemile Creek at elevation 2,500 feet 

do : 



Twelvemile Creek above East Fork 

Twelvemile Creek at mouth 

do 

East Fork Twelvemile Creek near mouth. 
do 



4.1 
4.1 

19 

19 

11.6 

1.6 
1.6 
18.9 
44.5 
44.5 
22.9 
22.9 



Sec.-ft. 
87 
191 
125 
129 
a4.2 
10.5 
15.4 
24.7 
2.1 
2.8 
1. 
1 
1 
26 
24 



20.3 

6.3 

6.0 
15.6 
38 
73.3 
24.4 
23.9 



Dis- 
charge 

per 

square 

mile. 



hc.-ft. 
1.00 
2.20 
.947 
.977 



.847 
.994 
1.59 
.808 



.268 
.317 
1.38 
1.30 
1.75 

3.94 
3.75 
.825 
.855 
1.64 
1.07 
1.04 



a Some water was diverted past section in the ditch from Miller and Mastodon forks; this measurement 
shows the seepage from the diversion dams and ditch. 

HARRISON CREEK. 



Harrison Creek, tributary to Birch Creek from the north near the 
junction of the South Fork, drains a narrow, irregular, V-shaped 
valley south of the divide at the head of Independence, Boulder, and 
Deadwood creeks. The North Fork of this stream, which heads 
against Mastodon Dome, was the scene of the first hydraulicking in 
the Birch Creek region, though on account of miscalculations the 
venture proved a failure. 

The following measurements were made on this stream in 1908: 
July 8, Harrison Creek, elevation, 2,200 feet; discharge, 4.9 second- 
feet; drainage area, 17.9 square miles; discharge, 0.274 second-foot 
per square mile. July 8, North Fork, elevation, 2,600 feet; dis- 
charge, 7.1 second-feet; drainage area, 6.2 square miles; discharge, 
1.15 second-feet per square mile. 



56 



WATER IN YUKON-TANANA REGION, 1907-1908. 



CROOKED CREEK. 

Over the divide to the north, Crooked Creek, with its fan-shaped 
drainage basin, gathers the waters of Porcupine and Mastodon domes. 
Porcupine and Maramoth creeks form this stream which, after leav- 
ing the hills, meanders through a rather broad valley for about 30 
miles, discharging its waters into Birch Creek about 10 miles above 
Fourteenmile House. Boulder and Deadwood creeks are tributaries 
from the south. 

The following miscellaneous measurements were made in Crooked 
Creek drainage basin in 1908: 

Measurements in Crooked Creek drainage basin, 1908. 



Date. 



June 30 

Julyl 

September 9. 

Julyl 

Do 



Stream and locality. 



Crooked Creek at Central House . 

do 

do 

Albert Creek at trail crossing 

Quartz Creek at trail crossing. . . 



Drainage 
area. 



Sq. miles. 
161 
161 
161 



8.4 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec-feet. 

57.7 

62.0 

86.4 

9.1 

2.7 



Dis- 
charge 

per 
square 
mile. 



Sec-feet. 

0.358 

.323 

.536 



.322 



MAMMOTH CREEK. 

Mammoth Creek, which with Porcupine Creek forms Crooked 
Creek, is itself formed by the confluence of Mastodon and Inde- 
pendence creeks. These creeks, with Miller Creek, drain the area 
between Bonanza and Boulder creeks. Mastodon and Independence 
creeks head on the northern slope of Mastodon Dome, flow north- 
westward about 6 miles, and unite to form Mammoth Creek. Mas- 
todon Creek Valley is V-shaped and is flanked on either side by 
even-topped ridges having a gentle slope parallel to that of the 
stream and about 1,300 feet above its bed. Independence Creek 
has an unsymmetrical valley with the steep slope on the left, the 
right side being cut by numerous small tributaries. Both streams 
flow in rather loose gravelly beds, and their valleys are sparsely 
timbered and very steep in their upper courses. Considerable min- 
ing has been done on these creeks, especially on Independence, 
where operations were active in 1908. Miller Creek rises in the ridge 
between Porcupine and Mastodon domes and flows northeastward 
to Mammoth Creek. Some mining has been done on this creek. 

A gaging station was established on Mammoth Creek at Miller 
House, July 2, 1908. The gage is nailed to a log retaining wall on 
the left bank of the stream just below the bridge, and is referred to a 
spike driven in a log at the upstream end of the road house, marked 
B. M. ; the spike is 10.17 feet above zero of gage. Readings were 
taken by J. F. Kelly, merchant, at Miller House. 



THE CIRCLE DISTRICT. 

Discharge measurements of Mammoth Creek at Miller House, 1908. 



57 



Date. 



nSlht. I Discharge. 



Date. 



Gage 
height. 



Discharge. 



Feet. 

Jiily2 ' 0.85 

July 6 ! .70 

July7 1.00 



Sec-feet. 
33.7 
20.7 
48.0 



September 6. 
September 7 . 



Feet. 
0.90 
.85 



Sec-feet. 
.34 9 
31.0 



Daily mean gage height and estimated discharge of Mammoth Creek at Miller House, 1908. 
[Elevation, 1,700 feet; drainage area, 37.1 square miles.] 





September. 


October. 


Day. 


September. 


October. 


Day. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


1.. 


Fed. 


Sec.-ft. 


Feet. 
0.50 
.50 
.50 
.50 
.50 
.50 
.50 
.50 
.50 
.40 
.40 
.40 
.40 


Sec.-ft. 
14 4 
14 4 
14 4 
14 4 
14 4 
14 4 
14 4 
14 4 
14 4 
13.0 
13.0 
13.0 
13.0 


18 


Feet. 
.70 
.90 
.85 
.80 
.70 
.60 
.60 
.55 
.50 
.50 


Sec.-ft. 
20.7 
36.0 
31.0 
26.8 
20.7 
16.7 
16.7 
15.4 
14 4 
14 4 
14 9 
15.4 
14 4 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


2 : ::::::;:;;;::::::: 


19 






3.. 


20 







4 


21 




5 : 


22 






6 . 


23 






7 . 


24 




8.. 


0.90 
.80 
.90 
.85 
.70 
. 75 
.70 
.75 
.70 
.75 


36.0 
26.8 
36.0 
31.0 
20.7 
2.3.4 
20.7 
23.4 
20.7 
-• 23. 4 


1 25 






9.. 


26 




10... 


27 






11... 


28 




12 


,29 

j 30 

' Mean 

Mean per sq.mile 

Run-off, depth in 

inches 


. 55 
.50 






13 

14 

15 










22.0 

.609 

.52 


14 


16 






..376 


17 














. 18 











Note. — Creek frozen over after October 13. 

Miscellaneous measurements in Mammoth Creek drainage basin, 1908. 



Date. 



stream and locality. 



September 6 . . . Mastodon Creek at claim 21 above. 

September 7 do 

July 5 Mastodon Creek at claim 1 above . 

September 7 i do 

July 5 Independence Creek near mouth . . 

Septem ber 7 i do 

July 6 Miller Creek near mouth 

September 7 do 



Drainage 


Dis- 


area. 


charge. 1 


1 
Sq. miles. 


1 
Sec.-ft. 


1 6.9 


3.9 


6.9 


9.1 


10.4 


7.7 


10.4 


11.5 


1 13.2 


46 


13.2 


11.9 


! 10.5 


5.9 


j 10.5 

1 


11.2 



Discharge 

per square 

mile. 



Sec.-ft. 

0.565 

1.32 
.742 

1.11 
.348 
.902 
.562 

1.07 



PORCUPINE CREEK. 

Porcupine Creek, the left branch of Crooked Creek, rises in the high 
ridges around Porcupine Dome and flows southeastward tlirough a 
deep, unsymmetrical valley for about 14 miles to Crooked Creek. 
Bonanza Creek, a tributary from the right, enters about 4 miles above 
the mouth. 

The following miscellaneous measurements were made in its upper 
drainage basin in 1908: Porcupine Creek near proposed ditch intake, 
elevation, about 2,200 feet; discharge, 12.6 second-feet; drainage area, 



58 



WATER IN YUKON-TANANA REGION, 1907-1908. 



17.8 square miles; discharge, 0.708 second-foot per square mile. 
Bonanza Creek at ditch intake, elevation, 2,200 feet; July 4, dis- 
charge, 12.4 second-feet; July 6, discharge, 13 second-feet; Septem- 
ber 7, discharge, 12.3 second-feet; drainage area, 7.9 square miles; 
discharge, 1.56, 1.64, and 1.56 second-feet per square mile, respec- 
tively. 

In 1908 Berry & Lamb constructed along the right side of these 
creeks a ditch for hydraulicking on Mammoth Creek. This ditch is 
described in detail on pages 95-96 of this report. 

A gaging station was established on Porcupine Creek below Bonanza 
Creek July 4, 1908. Readings were taken by ^ir. Miller, in the employ 
of Berry & Lamb. 

Discharge measurements of Porcupine Creek below Bonanza Creek, 1908. 



Date. 



July 4 

July 6 

September 7 



Gage 
height. 



Feet. 
1.55 
1.58 
1.70 



Discharge. 



Sec-feet. 
25.0 
26.0 
38.8. 



Daily gage height and estimated discharge of Porcupine Creek below Bonanza Creek, 1908. 

[Drainage area, 39.9 square miles.] 





July. 


August. 


Day. 


July. 


August. 


Day. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


! 

Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


1 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


Feet. 

1.37 
1.37 
1.32 
1.30 
1.29 
1.30 
1.28 
1.32 
1.48 
1.50 


Sec.-ft. 

16.8 
16.8 
16.1 
15.7 
15.6 
15.7 
15.5 
16.1 
20.8 
21.7 


20 


Feet. 

1.49 
1.44 
1.40 
1.42 
1.50 
1.51 
1.48 
1.46 
1.44 
1.44 
1.42 
1.40 


Sec.-ft. 

21.3 
19.2 
17.8 
18.5 
21.7 
22.3 
20.8 
19.9 
19.2 
19.2 
18.5 
17.8 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


2 






21 






3 






22 






4 


1.55' 
1.53 
1.79 
2.26 
2.10 
1.95 
1.85 
1.90 
1.72 
1.64 
1.72 
1.76 
1.72 
1.68 
1.61 
1.52 


24.5 
23.4 
53.5 

147 

115 
85.5 
65.5 
75.5 
41.8 
31.5 
41.8 
48.1 
41.8 
36.3 
29.0 
22.8 


23 






5 


24 






6 


25 






7 


26 . ... 






8 


27 






9 


28 






10 


29 






11 


30: 






12 






31 






13 






Mean 






14 








40.0 
1.00 
1.04 




17.1 


15.. ■ . 






Mean per square 
mile 






16 






.429 


17 






Run-off, depth in 
inches 






18 






.16 


19 





















BOULDER CREEK. 



Boulder Creek rises in the dividing ridge north of the North Fork 
of Harrison Creek and drains a rather narrow valley between Mam- 
moth and Deadwood creeks. It is about 12 miles long, flows in a 
northeasterly direction, and empties into Crooked Creek about 4 
miles above Central House. 



THE RAMPART DISTRICT. 59 

The following discharge measurements were made at the mouth 
of this stream in 1908: July 1, discharge, 8 second-feet; July 2, 5.8 
second-feet; drainage area, 38.8 square miles; discharge per square 
mile, 0.206 and 0.150 second-foot, respectively. 

DEADWOOD CREEK. 

Deadwood Creek rises in the ridge to the north of Harrison Creek, 
drains a precipitous V-shaped area between that stream and Boulder 
Creek, and unites with Crooked Creek about 4 miles below Central 
House. It is about 20 miles long. For about 8 miles the stream 
flows through the narrow part of the area and is very steep. Below 
Switch Creek, a tributary from the right, the grade lessens and the 
valley gradually widens until it merges into that of Crooked Creek. 

About 35 claims are being worked on this creek, all by the ''open- 
cut" method. The stretch including the lower 3 or 4 miles is being 
prospected for dredging purposes. A churn drill will probably be 
put on this part of the ground during the coming season. 

The following discharge measurements were made July 1, 1909: 

•Deadwood Creek above Switch Creek, 9.1 second-feet; drainage area, 

21.3 square miles; discharge per square mile, 0.427 second-foot. 

Switch Creek at mouth, 0.72 second-foot; drainage area, 5.8 square 

miles; discharge per square mile, 0.124 second-foot. 

THE RAJVIPART DISTRICT. 

DESCRIPTION OF AREA. 

The area originally known as the Rampart district embraces three 
main drainage areas, as follows: Minook and Troublesome creeks, 
tributary to Yukon River, and Baker Creek, tributary to the Tanana. 

^Mining was actively begun in this region in 1896 on Little Minook 
Creek, which is tributary to Minook Creek from the right about 5 
miles from its mouth, and its total gold output since that time 
exceeds $2,000,000. 

The town of Rampart, situated on the left bank of the Yukon River 
just below the mouth of Minook Creek, was long the main supply 
point for the entire region, and from it all the mining outfits and 
provisions were hauled on sleds in winter and packed on horses in 
summer. Xow, however, the Baker Creek area is by far the largest 
producer, and since several stores have been opened at Hot Springs, 
about 6 miles from the Tanana River on the Baker Slough, Ram- 
:)art has ceased to be the main trading point, and the term ' ' Rampart 
district" is now understood by some to include only Minook and 
Troublesome creeks. In this report, however, the original meaning 
is retained. 



60 WATEK IN YUKON-TAN ANA REGION, 1907-1908. 

The divide between Minook Creek and Baker Creek drainage 
basins has a general but very irregular east and west direction, mth 
a notable break to the north at the head of Hutlinana Creek. It 
varies in elevation from 1,000 to 4,000 feet, Wolverine Mountain 
being the highest point. The northern area is rugged and moun- 
tainous, with narrow valleys and precipitous slopes, even down to 
the mouth of the streams, while the southern area, although rough 
at the headwaters, broadens out below into alluvial flats in which 
the streams are sluggish. 

Timber sufficient for fuel is found in most of the valleys and lower 
slopes of the Rampart region. Spruce, birch, and poplar are abun- 
dant on the hillsides near Hot Springs and along the Tanana. Minook 
Creek Valley originally contained timber suitable for mine supports, 
but of such timber little is left. Timber near the mines, scanty at 
best, is being destroyed by forest fires which are depleting the sup- 
ply much more rapidly than the many legitimate uses to which it is 
being put. 

Hot Springs, situated in a country which, except in the imme- 
diate vicinity of the mining claims, is practically a mlderness, affords 
all the luxuries and conveniences which are associated with a mod- 
ern summer hotel in the States, including shower baths, swimming 
pools, comfortable rooms mth hot and cold water, fresh milk, eggs, 
and vegetables. The farm of several acres is cultivated by modern 
methods. An extensive system of hothouses furnishes means of 
maturing many varieties of fruit and vegetables that could not 
otherwise be raised, even in the warm ground in the vicinity of the 
springs. 

Transportation facilities in this region are reasonably good. Minook 
and Troublesome creeks receive their supplies via the Yukon River 
from Rampart as the distributing point. The Alaska Road Com- 
mission has built, up Minook Valley, about 6 miles of road w^hich is 
very good during the dry season and which, as comparatively little 
mining is carried on above that point, meets as well as could be 
expected the needs of this country, where road construction and par- 
ticularty road maintenance are so expensive. The Baker Creek 
workings are reached via the Tanana River, with Hot Springs as 
distributing point. Mr. Frank Manley, who has done so much 
toward developing that country, constructed during 1906 and 1907 
about 30 miles of road between Hot Springs and Thanksgiving and 
Pioneer creeks. This road was improved during 1908 by the road 
commission and now affords direct and comfortable access to prac- 
tically all the Baker Creek mines. A road between Hot Springs and 
the Patterson Creek mines was also under construction by the road 
commission during the latter part of the season of 1908. This road 
will follow the right bank of the Baker Slough to within about one- 



U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 



WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 228 PLATE 1 




MAP SHOWING LOCATION OF GAGING STATIONS IN RAMPART DISTRICT. 



THE KAMPAET DISTRICT. 61 

half mile of its mouth, where the course turns abruptly to the right 
and passes over the divide into the Patterson Creek basin. When 
completed it will afford wagon communication with the Tanana 
River boats, will make possible the transportation of heavy mining 
machinery, and will also do away with the present necessity of pack- 
ing all the supplies to Patterson Creek — a very expensive and tedious 
method, even under the most favorable conditions. 

As in the Fairbanks and Circle districts, much valuable ground is 
lying idle or being worked at excessive cost because of the lack of 
water, and some practical means of securing En adequate supply 
becomes more vitally important each year and presents a problem 
which should receive the careful consideration of every mine owner. 

GAGING STATIONS. 

The following list gives the points in the Rampart district at which 
gages were established or measurements made in 1908. The num- 
bers refer to Plate V. 

Gaging stations in Rampart district, 1908. 

1. Minook Creek 4J miles above Chapman Creek. 

2. Minook Creek below Chapman Creek. 

3. Minook Creek above Little Minook Creek. 

4. Granite Creek at road crossing. 

5. Chapman Creek at mouth. 

6. Slate Creek at mouth. 

7. Ruby Creek at mouth. 

8. Hoosier Creek above and below pipe intake. 

9. Hoosier Creek at claim 11 above. 

10. Little Minook Junior Creek at mouth. 

11. Little Minook Creek at claim 9 above. 

12. Hunter Creek at claim 17 above. 

13. Hunter Creek at claim 14 above. 

14. Troublesome Creek above Quail Creek. 

15. Troublesome Creek below Quail Creek. 

16. Quail Creek above South Fork and South Fork at mouth. 

17. Quail Creek above Nugget Gulch. 

18. Russian Creek 3 miles above mouth. 

19. Squaw Creek at mouth. 

20.- West Fork of Tolovana River near Moose Creek. 

21. Starvation Creek at mouth. 

22. Moose Creek at mouth. 

23. Goose Creek below Buckeye Creek. 

24. Goose Creek 4 miles above mouth. 

25. Buckeye Creek at mouth. 

26. Baker Creek at road crossing. 

27. North Fork of Baker Creek below Wolverine Creek. 

28. Wolverine Creek 2 miles above mouth. 

29. Wolverine Creek at mouth. 

30. Allen Creek 5 miles above mouth. 

31. Allen Creek at trail crossing. 



62 WATER IN YUKON-TANANA REGION, 1907-1908. 

32. Xew York Creek at Thanksgiving ditch intake. 

33. New York Creek at trail crossing. 

34. California Creek at Thanksgiving ditch intake and California Creek branch of 

Thanksgiving ditch near intake. 

35. Thanksgi\'ing ditch near outlet. 

36. Eureka Creek at claim 14 above. 

37. Eureka Creek at claim 5 above. 
.38. Eureka Creek at mouth. 

39. Pioneer Creek at What Cheer Bar ditch intake. 

40. What Cheer Bar ditch near Seattle Creek. 

41. Hutlinana Creek below Caribou Creek. 

42. Hutlinana Creek below Cairo Creek. 

43. Ohio Creek at trail crossing. 

44. Elephant Gulch at mouth. 

45. Goff Creek near mouth. 

46. Applegate Creek 1 mile above mouth. 

47. Cache Creek at trail crossing. 

48. Sullivan Creek 3 miles above mouth. 

49. Quartz Creek near mouth. 

50. Woodchopper Creek at trail crossing. 

MINOOK CREEK DRAINAGE BASIN. 
GENERAL DESCRIPTION. 

Minook Creek heads on the northern slope of Eureka Dome, flows 
northeastward for about 4 miles, and then takes a northerly course 
through a remarkably straight valley to the Yukon River, which it 
joins just above Rampart. It is about 25 miles long and drains an 
area of 198 square miles, the major portion being on the east of the 
stream. The basin is covered with a light grow^th of timber which 
furnishes an ample supply for fuel but very little suitable for milling. 

The chief tributaries are Chapman, Hoosier, Little ]\Iinook, and 
Hunter creeks from the east and Granite, Ruby, and Slate creeks from 
the Avest. Above Granite Creek the valley is narrow and V-shaped; 
below that point it broadens out and has perhaps a maximum width 
of one-half mile. The western slope is precipitous throughout the 
entire length, while the eastern slope below Chapman Creek is more 
gradual, with prominent benches. In the upper course the stream 
is crooked, meandering from one side of the valley to the other; the 
lower part is comparatively straight. 

The summer and winter trails from Rampart to Eureka coincide 
through the greater part of the distance — to a point about 2 miles 
above Granite Creek, where the summer trail crosses the creek and 
passes on to the divide between Eureka and Pioneer creeks. The 
winter trail keeps to the left of Minook Creek, crosses the divide to the 
west of Eureka Dome, and passes down the right limit of Boston 
Creek. The trail is very difhcult to travel, owing to the large quan- 
tity of ground ice along its left bank, which keeps it saturated even 
during the driest part of the summer season. 



THE RAMPAKT DISTRICT. 



63 



''Just below the mouth of Slate Creek the Minook spreads mto a 
number of branches in a wide gravel flat. This flat, which is typical 
of many Alaskan streams, is probably due to a change in the grade 
of the creek. The stream here is unable to carry the gravels of the 
swifter water above, and so spreads them upon the flat. Here are 
found the so-called 'winter glaciers,' some of which last through the 
short summers. In 1904 a quarter or half acre of 'winter glacier' still 
remained when the September frosts occurred. This ice owes its 
origin to the fact that, as the water freezes in the fall, the channel is 
greatly narrowed. The resulting hydrostatic pressure cracks the ice 
and the water overflows and freezes. This process is repeated until 
considerable thickness of ice is accumulated."" 



MINOOK CREEK ABOVE LITTLE MINOOK CREEK. 

A board gage was erected May 25, 1908, by M. E. Koonce on Minook 
Creek just above Little Minook Creek. This gage was read by the 
miners of Hoosier and Little Minook creeks on their way to and from 
Rampart. 

Discharge measurements of Minooh Creek above Little Minook Creek, 1908. 



Date. 


Gage 
height. 


Discharge. 


Date. 


Gage 
height. 


Discharge. 


August 9 


Feet. 
1.58 
1.50 
2.50 
2.25 
2.15 


Sec-feet. 
31.3 
30.4 
110.0 

82.5 
70.9 


September 12 


Feet. Scc-fect. 
1. 91 50. 9 


August 16 


! September 14 


1. 86 49. 9 


September 5 

September 7 

September 10 


i September 15 


1.85 ^(^ 1 


September 19 


2.25 


81.9 









Daily gage height and estimated discharge of Minook Creek above Little Minook Creek, 1908. 
[Elevation, 425 feet; drainage area, 130 square miles.] 





May. 


June. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


'S 

bo 

o 


bD 
03 

o 


i-i 

O 
w 




ft 


4-5 

■q3 




'S 




1 


Feet. 


Feet. 

3.6 

3.6 


Sec.-ft. 


Feet. 
2.2 


Sec-ft. 
77 
73 
69 
65 
58 

51 

77 

98 

110 

77 

74 
70 
67 
63 
60 


Feet. 
1.60 

"i.'76' 
1.70 

"i.'eo' 

1.57 
1.55 

'i.'ss' 

1.50 


Sec-ft. 
33 
34 
36 
38 
38 

37 
35 
34 
33 
32 

31 
31 
31 
31 
30 


Feet. 
1.70 

'2."G5' 
2.50 

2.35 
2.25 
2.29 
2.20 
2.15 

'i.'go" 
'i.'ss" 

1.85 


Sec-ft. 
38 


2 




68 


3 








98 


4 










128 


5 










110 


6 








1.9 

2.' 4" 

2.5 

2.2 


92 


7 




2. 9 1 160 


82 


8 






159 

147 


86 


9 




2.8 


77 


10 




2. 5 1 110 


72 


11 






119 
128 
137 
146 
155 


61 


12 






51 


13 






50 


14 






48 


15 






48 



a Hess, F. L., The Rampart placers: Bull. U. S. Geol. Survey No. 337, 1908, pp. 07-68. 



64 



WATEE IN YUKON-TANANA KEGION, 1907-1908. 



Daily gage height and estimated discharge of Minooh Creeh above Little Minooh Creeh, 

1908— Continued. 





May. 


June. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Date. 

• 


t 
2 

1 


,^ 
'a 
o 

fcjO 

o 


6 

m 

ft 


'S 

<S 
fcJO 
OS 






m 

ft 


+.3 





S-l 
03 

ft 


03 

a 


Si 

5 


16 


Feet. 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 
164 
173 
182 
191 
200 

163 
147 
131 
116 
103 

90 

77 
77 
77 
77 


Feet. 
1.70 

'i.'es" 



Sec.-ft. 
56 
63 
49 
46 
42 

38 
38 
37 
36 
36 

35 
35 
35 
35 
34 
34 


Feet. 
1.50 

1.65 


"i."66' 

1.65 
1.60 


Sec.-ft. 
31 
32 
33 
34 
35 

35 
35 
34' 
33 
35 

33 
34 
35 
36 
37 
38 


Feet. 
'2.' 25" 

"i.'so" 


Sec.-ft. 
59 


17 






70 


1$ 






82 


19 






72 


20 




3.20 

2.92 


62 


21 i 




51 


22 




44 


23 








24 




2.55 
'2." 26" 






25 


4.70 

4.10 
4.91 






26 






27 : 






28 






29 










30 


4.15 
4.25 


2.20 






31 
















Mean 






134 
1.03 

.92 




56.0 

.431 

.50 




34.0 

.262 

.30 


...... 


70.4 


Mean per square mile 






.542 


Run-off, deptli in inches 






.44 




1 





GRANITE CREEK. 

Granite Creek rises opposite Allen Creek in the Baker-Minook 
divide and flows in a northeast direction, entering Minook Creek 
about 16 miles from the Yukon. It is about 8 miles long and is the 
third largest tributary of Minook Creek. The lower valley is 
V-shaped, with steep rocky slopes, -and the bed is of heavy bowlders 
intermixed with gravel. The upper valley was not visited. 

The following measurement was made near the mouth August 8, 
1908: Discharge, 5.7 second-feet; drainage area, 26.9 square miles; 
discharge, 0.212 second-foot per square mile. 



CHAPMAN CREEK. 

Chapman Creek enters Minook Creek from the east about 1 mile 
below Granite Creek. It heads on the north slope of Elephant 
Mountain and is about 5 miles long. Considerable work has been 
done on the creek and favorable prospects have been found, but no 
actual mining has been carried on. 

The following measurement was made August 8, 1908, near the 
mouth: Discharge, 2.9 second-feet; drainage area, 14.8 square miles; 
discharge, 0.196 second-foot per square mile. 



THE RAMPART DISTRICT. 



65 



SLATE CREEK. 

Slate Creek is tributary to Minook Creek about 12 miles from the 
Yukon. It heads on the north slope of Baldy Mountain and has a 
length of 5 miles, with an average grade of nearly 350 feet per mile. 
The valley is V-shaped near the mouth and unsymmetrical toward 
the headwaters of the stream, with rugged slopes well covered with 
timber. This creek has been worked since 1902, and good values are 
said to have been found. 

The following measurement was made near the mouth August 8, 
1908: Discharge, 2.2 second-feet; drainage area, 7.9 square miles; 
discharge, 0.278 second-foot per square mile. 

RUBY CREEK. 

Ruby Creek, the first western tributary of importance, enters 
Minook Creek about 8 miles from the Yukon and 3 miles above the 
mouth of Hoosier Creek. Its course is northeastward, parallel to 
that of Slate Creek. It is about 8 miles long. 

The valley is sharp cut and unsymmetrical. The right side has 
several small tributaries, while the left is broken only by mere rills. 

The producing claims are all within 1^ miles of the mouth. Pros- 
pecting above that point has been hampered by live water in the 
gravels. 

On August 8, 1908, a measurement was made as follows: Dis- 
charge, 1.7 second-feet; drainage area, 10.6 square miles: discharge, 
0.160 second-foot per square mile. 

HOOSIER CREEK. 

Hoosier Creek rises in the high divide at the head of Chapman 
Creek and flows northwestward, emptying into Minook Creek from the 
right about 5 miles above its mouth. Practically the only mining on 
this creek in 1908 was at claim 14 above where a hydraulic elevator 
was in operation during a portion of the season. A gaging station was 
established on claim 11 above, August 16, and readings taken by M. E. 
Koonce. 

Discharge measurements of Hoosier Creek at claim 11 above, 1908. 



Date. 


Gage 
height. 


Discharge. 


Date. 


Gage 
height. 


Discharge. 


August 16 


Feet. 
0.35 


Sec.-ft. 

4.7 
20.6 


Septemljer 9 


Feet. 
0.57 
.43 


Sec.-ft. 
14.5 


September 5 


.65 


September 14 


7.2 







81007— IRR 228—09- 



66 ' WATER IN YUKON-TANANA REGION, 1907-1908. 

Daily gage height and estimated discharge of Hoosier Creeh at claim 11 above, 1908. 
[Elevation, 600 feet; drainage area, 25.7 square miles.] 





August. 


September. 


1 Day. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 

• 


Dis- 
charge. 

Sec.-ft. 

4.7 
4.7 
4.7 
4.7 
4.7 
4.7 
4.7 
4.7 
4.7 
4.7 
4.7 
4.7 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


1 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


Feet. 
0.40 


Sec.-ft. 

8.0 

25.0 

42.0 

25.4 

25.4 

13.0 

20.6 

13.0 

11.6 

10.2 

9.5 

9.0 

8.5 

8.0 

8.0 

8.0 

7.7 

10.2 

9.1 


\ 20-. 


Feet. 
0.35 


Feet. 

0.45 

.35 


Sec.-ft. 
8.0 


2 






! 21 


4.7 


3 .. 






.85 
.70 
.70 
.55 
.65 
.55 


1 2'> ' 




4 






: 23 i 






5... 






: 21 .....1 






6 






25 






7 






26 


. 




8 






1 27 






9 






1 28 






10 


' 




.50 


, 23 ; 






11 






i 30 i --- 






12 








; 31 

Mean 


.35 







13 












14 






.45 
.45 
.45 
.43 
.50 




4.70 
.183 

.10 




13.6 


15 






Mean per square 
mile 






16 


0.35 
.35 
.35 


4.7 
4.7 
4.7 

4.7 


.529 


17 


Run-off, depthin 
inches 






18 ... 


.41 


19 















LITTLE MINOOK JUNIOR CREEK. 

Little Minook Junior Creek is a small tributary of Minook Creek and 
drains a small area between the mouths of Little Minook and Hoosier 
creeks. 

It is about 2h miles long. The lower valley has a heavy grade and 
is sharpl}^ V-shaped. The upper valle}" has more gentle slopes and 
a lower stream gradient. 

But little mining work was accomplished during the summer of 
1908, owing to the lack of water, although some very rich ground was 
said to have been found. The stream probably seldom furnishes a 
sluice head of water except during the spring run-off. 

A measurement was made near the mouth on September 5, 1908: 
Discharge, 0.32 second-foot; drainage area, 1.3 square miles; dis- 
charge, 0.246 second-foot per square mile. 

LITTLE MINOOK CREEK. 

Little Minook Creek is tributary to Minook Creek about 5 miles 
from the Yukon. Its drainage basin lies between Hunter and Hoosier 
creeks and is entirely surrounded by them. The course of the stream 
is parallel to that of Hunter Creek, with the same pronounced bend 
to the left about 3 miles from its mouth. The valley is sharply 
V-shaped with precipitous slopes, sparsely covered with small timber. 
This stream has been the largest producer of the Minook basin, but it 
has been worked in a rather unsystematic manner on account of the 
many different owners. Underground water also has caused con- 
siderable trouble, making it necessary to abandon some ground shown 



THE RAMPART DISTRICT. 



67 



to be rich. No pay has been found above claim 9 above. A favorite 
method of removing the overburden of muck and gravel during the 
open season is by means of automatic dams (PL VII, B). A 
gaging station was established on this stream at claim 9 above on 
June 21, 1908, and readings were taken by Messers. Nelson, Cummings, 
and Larson. 

Discharge measurements of Little Minook Creek at claim 9 above, 1908. 



Date. 



August 10.. 
August 15.. 
September 4 



Gage 
height. 



Feet. 
0.79 
.79 
1.17 



Discharge. 



Sec-feet. 

.67 
6.8 



Date. 



September 7.. 
September 15. 



Gage 
height. 



Feet. 
0.98 
.91 



Discharge. 



Sec-feet. 
2.5 
1.3 



Daily gage height and estimated discharge of Little Minook Creek at claim 9 above, 1908. 
[Elevation, 900 feet; drainage area, 5.9 square miles.] 





June. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


1 


Feet. 


Sec-ft. 


Feet. 
0.92 
.92 
.92 
.83 
.83 

.92 
1.08 
1.50 
1.42 
1.33 

1.33 


Sec-ft. 
1.60 
1.60 
1.60 

.87 
.87 

1.60 

4.20 

26.40 

20.50 

14.60 

14.60 

10.30 

6.00 

1.60 

.87 

.87 
.62 
.62 
.62 
.62 

.62 
.62 
.62 
.62 
.62 

.62 
.62 
.62 
.62 
.62 
.62 


Feet. 
0.75 

.83 

"".'79' 

"".'79' 
'"".'83' 

' ' ' ".'83 ' 


Sec-ft. 
0.62 

.87 
.84 
.82 
.80 

.78 
.76 
.74 
.72 
.70 

.70 
.70 
.70 
.70 
.70 

.76 
.82 
.87 

.87 
.87 

.87 
.87 
.87 
.87 
.87 

.87 
.87 
.87 
.87 
.87 
.87 


Feet. 
1.08 
1.17 
1.21 
1.17 

"".'98' 
'""."91" 


Sec-ft. 
4.2 


2 






6.8 


3 






10.1 


4 






6.8 


5 






5.3 


6 






3.8 


7 






2.3 


8 






2 2 


9 






2.1 


10 






2.0 


U.... 






1.9 


12 






1 8 


13 






1.7 


14 




.92 
.83 

.83 
.75 
.75 


1.6 


15 




1 4 


16 








17 










18 








19 


! 






20 












21 


1.17 

1.08 

1.00 

.92 

.92 

.92 
.92 
.92 
.92 
.92 


6.8 
4.2 
2.6 
1.6 
1.6 

1.6 
1.6 
1.6 
1.6 
1.6 




.75 






22 


. 




23 






24 






25 


! 


26 






27 






28 


1 


29 






30 






31 












Mean 




2.48 
.420 
.16 




3.78 
.641 
.79 





.800 
.136 
.16 




3.60 


Mean per square mile 




.010 


Run-otl , depth in inches 




.34 









68 



WATEK IN YUKON-TAN AN A REGION, 1907-1908. 



HUNTER, CREEK. 

Hunter Creek, the largest tributary of Minook Creek, enters it from 
the right about 3 miles from its mouth. It flows northward to its 
junction with 47 Pup, where it makes a right-angle turn to the west, 
entering Minook Creek about 6 miles farther on. It is a crooked 
stream about 12 miles long, and has a narrow V-shaped valley and 
rough precipitous slopes. The lower part of the valley on the right 
side is marked by a very pronounced bench which so far has furnished 
the chief gold-bearing gravels. Hunter Creek has a particularly 
heavy growth of timber, much of which would be suitable for saw logs. 

Two hydraulic plants were in operation on this creek during 1908 — 
one on Discovery claim and one on claim 17 above. A gaging station 
was established on this stream at claim 17 above, August 11, 1908, 
and regular readings were taken by S. M. Wheeler. 

Discharge measurements of Hunter Creek at claim 17 above, 1908. 



Date. 


Gage 
height. 

Feet. 
0.50 
.90 


Discharge. 


Date. 


Gage 
height. 


Discharge. 


August 11 


Sec.-ft. 

4.5 
17.9 


September 10 


Feet. 
0.79 
.65 


Sec.-ft. 
12.7 


September 6 


September 16 


8.4 









Daily gage height and estimated discharge of Hunter Creek at claim 17 above, 1908. 
[Elevation 600 feet; drainage area, 33.4 square miles.] 





August. 


September. 


Date. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


1 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


Feet. 
0.60 
.75 
1.05 
1.10 
1.00 

.90 
.85 
.85 


Sec.-ft. 
6.6 
11.4 
25.1 
27.7 
22.6 

17.9 
15.6 
15.6 
14.1 
12.6 

11.1 
9.6 


21 


Feet. 
0.55 
.50 
.45 
.50 
.50 

.50 
.50 
.50 
, .50 
.50 
.55 


Sec.-ft. 
5.5 
4.5 
3.7 
4.5 
4.5 

4.5 
4.5 
4.5 
4.5 
4.5 
5.5 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


2 




22 






3 






23 




4 






24 




5 






25 




6 






26 


1 


7 






27 




8 






28 




9 






29 




10 






.79 
"".'76' 


30 






0.50 
.55 
.50 
.50 
.50 

.50 
.50 
.50 
.50 
.50 


4.5 
5.5 
4.5 
4.5 
4.5 

4.5 
4.5 
4.5 
4.5 
4.5 


31 




11 


Mean 




12! ! ! ! ! ' 




4.60 

.138 

.11 


1.^.8 


13 


Mean per square 
mile 








14 







.473 


15 






Run-off, depth iu 
inches 












.14 


16 








17 








18 








19 








20 

















THE EAMPART DISTRICT. 



69 



MISCELLANEOUS MEASUREMENTS. 



The following measurements, not previously listed, were made in 
the Minook Creek drainage basin in 1908. 

Miscellaneous measurements in Minook Creeh drainage basin., 1908. 



Date. 


Stream and locality. 


Drainage 
area. 


Discharge. 


Discharge 

per square 

mile. 


August 8 

Do 


Minook Creek 4^ miles above Chapman Creek 

Minook Creek below Chapman Creek 

Hoosier Creek above pipe intake 

do 


Sq. miles. 

9.2 

58.3 

21.2 

21.2 


Sec.-ft. 
2.9 
7.1 
4.8 
11.1 
1.2 
2.3 
.32 


Sec.-ft. 
0.315 
.122 


August 10 

September 9 


.226 
.523 


Do 


Hoosier Creek below pipe intake 




August 10 


Hunter Creek at 14 above 


33.4 
1.3 


.069 


September 5 


Little Minook Junior Creek at mouth 


.246 







TROUBLESOME CREEK DRAINAGE BASIN. 



GENERAL DESCRIPTION. 

Troublesome Creek rises southeast of Wolverine Mountain, between 
the headwaters of Plutlinana Creek and the West Fork of the Tolo- 
vana River, and flows northeastward for about 40 miles, entering 
Hess Creek 10 miles from the Yukon River. 

No study of this creek was made below the mouth of Quail Creek, 
but it is said to follow^ a winding course, meandering from one side 
of the valley to the other through soft mucky soil, abounding with 
^^niggerheads" and a thick growth of small trees which make travel 
slow and tedious. It also has steep, high slopes which make it very 
difficult of approach. 

The main and tributary valleys at the head are almost canyon-Hke 
in appearance, being shut in by rocky, barren ridges which are high 
and precipitous. 

Troublesome Creek seems to be the only one near enough to the 
Rampart mines with sufficient run-off and gradient to be "worthy of 
consideration as a possible water supply for the development of 
hydro-electric power to be transmitted to that region. The approxi- 
mate average grade of the stream below the mouth of Quail Creek is 
45 feet per mile, ranging from 150 feet per mile at the upper limit to 
18 feet per mile at the mouth. 

About 7 miles from the head Troublesome Creek receives Quail 
Creek, its first important tributary. Quail Creek heads opposite 
Hoosier Creek and flows eastward, draining the north slope of Wolver- 
ine Mountain. It is about 5 miles long and drains an area of 20.6 
square miles. The south slope of its basin is rocky and barren, 
rising precipitously to the summit of Wolverine Mountain. On the 
north the valley has a very gentle approach and is covered with a 



'70 



WATER IN YUKON-TANANA REGION, 1907-1908. 



heavy growth of wild grass which furnishes excellent forage for pack 
animals. The stream is hned with a dense growth of willows in the 
upper portion, and near the mouth is a growth of spruce suitable for 
cabin and fuel purposes. A trail from Rampart to the mouth of 
Quail Creek, a distance of about 20 miles, follows up the right side 
of Little Minook Creek, crosses the divide, and passes diagonally 
down the long, gentle slope on the left side of Quail Creek. 

Considerable work was being done on the creek during the summer 
of 1908, and gold values were said to have been found in the gravels. 
The work thus far carried on has been prospecting rather than actual 



mining. 



The South Fork joins Quail Creek about a mile above Troublesome 
Creek and is its largest tributary. 

TROUBLESOME CREEK BELOW QUAIL CREEK. 

A gaging station was established on Troublesome Creek below the 
mouth of Quail Creek, August 12, 1908, and regular readings were 
taken by C. F. W. Cassidy. 

Discharge measurements of Troublesome Creek below Quail Creek, 1908. 



Date. 



August 12.. 
August 14. . 
September 2 



Gage 
height. 



Discharge. 



Feet. 
0.75 
.73 

1.07 



Sec.-ft. 
7.2 
6.2 
25.4 



Date. 



Gage 
height. 



September 3. 
September 4. 



Feet. 
1.20 
1.30 



Discharge. 



Sec.-ft. 
35.7 
50.4 



Daily gage height and estimated discharge of Troublesome Creek below Quail Creek, 19G8. 
[Elevation 1,750 feet; drainage area 43.2 square miles.] 





August. 


September. 


Day. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage Dis- 
height. charge. 


1 


Feet. 


Sec.-Jt. 


Feet. 
0.86 
1.04 
1.2 
1.3 


Sec.-jt. 
11.2 
23.2 
38.0 
48.0 
46.0 
43.0 
41.0 
37.5 
34.6 
32.0 
29.2 
28.3 
22.4 
13.4 
13.0 
12.6 
12.2 
10.9 
10.6 


20 \ 


Feet. 
0.79 
.78 
.78 
.75 
.73 
.75 
.78 
.75 


Sec.-Jl. 
8.3 
8.0 
8.0 
7.0 
6.4 
7.0 
8.0 
7.0 
8.0 
9.4 
8.6 
8.0 


Feet. Sec.-ft. 
10. 3 


2 


21 


1 10. 


3 


22 


9. 8 


4 


23 


0.82 
.68 
.60 


9.6 


5 


24 


5.2 


6 




25 


4.0 


7 




26 




8 




27 






9 




28 






10 




29 


.82 
.80 
.78 






11 - - 


1.11 
1.1 
1.03 
.90 




30 






12 . . 


0.75 

"'"'.'73' 

' "."72' 
.75 
.78 
.79 


7.0 
6.7 
6.4 
6.3 
6.2 
7.0 
8.0 
8.3 


31 






13 :.... 

14 


Mean 








7.48 

.173 

.13 




22.2 


15 

16 


Mean per square 
n^iile 




.518 


17 

18 


Run-off, depth in 
inches 




.48 


19 









THE EAMPART DISTRICT. 



71 



MISCELLANEOUS MEASUREMENTS. 



The following measurements were made to determine the propor- 
tional discharge of Troublesome Creek and its tributaries : 

Miscellaneous measurements in Troublesome Creek drainage basin, 1908. 



Date. 


Stream and locality. 


Drainage 
area. 


Discharge. 


Discharge 

per square 

mile. 


August 12 

Do. . 


Troublesome Creek above Quail Creek 


Sq. miles. 

21.4 

13.3 

17.6 

3.7 


Sec.-ft. 
2.5 
2.8 
4.3 
1.4 


Sec.-ft. 
0.117 


Quail Creek above South Fork 


.210 


Do. 


Quail Creek above Nuge;et Gulch 


.244 


Do 


South Fork of Quail Creek at mouth 


.378 









MINOR YUKON RIVER DRAINAGE. 
RUSSIAN CREEK. 

Russian Creek enters Yukon River from the south about 4 miles 
below Rampart. It has an unsymmetrical valley with steep slopes 
and a rather broad bottom land, thickly covered with small trees. 
It is about 8 miles long and flows in a general northerly direction. 

A measurement was made about 3 miles above the mouth on Sep- 
tember 19, 1908, as follows: Discharge, 1.9 second-feet; drainage area, 
9.9 square miles; discharge, 0.192 second-foot per square mile. 

SQUAW CREEK. 

Squaw Creek enters Yukon River just above Rampart, directly 
opposite Minook Creek. The creek was not seen above the mouth, 
but the upper valley is said to have a valuable growth of timber, 
and plans were being made to install a portable sawmill on the creek 
during the winter of 1908-9. Considerable winter prospecting has 
been done, but no values are reported. A nieasurement was made 
September 11, 1908, at the mouth, which gave a discharge of 27.7 
second-feet. 

WEST FORK OF TOLOVANA RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 

DESCRIPTION. 

The West Fork of Tolovana River is formed by three main 
arteries — Goose, Starvation, and Moose creeks — which flow north- 
eastward in generally parallel courses the greater portion of their 
length. They are separated by bench-like divides which rise 600 to 
800 feet above the valley bottoms. 

Goose Creek is the largest of the three and drains the highest 
ground. Sawtooth Mountain, rising high above it on the north, con- 
tributes the greater part of the run-off. The valley has an average 
width of perhaps one-fourth mile and is rather difficult to travel, 



72 



WATER IN YUKON-TANANA REGION, 1907-1908. 



having an extra thickness of the prevalent moss and containing 
many ''niggerheads" in a bed of muck and water. The bottom land 
is dotted with clumps of spruce and birch, but the timber generally 
is small. The creek crosses from side to side of the valley, and its 
gravelly bed contains large bowlders. The right slope is steep and 
makes a sharp angle with the bottom land and is unbroken by any 
noticeable water courses below Buckeye Creek. The left bank is 
marked by numerous feeders with deep-cut valleys extending back 
for several miles. 

Buckeye Creek is tributary to Goose Creek from the left about 10 
miles from the mouth. It has shown sufficient gold to warrant care- 
ful prospecting. The creek, however, probably never furnishes suf- 
ficient water for anything more than the washing of spring dumps. 

Starvation and Moose creeks were visited only at the mouth, but 
as seen from a distance the lower valleys appeared to have the same 
general characteristics as those of Goose Creek. 



MEASUREMENTS . 

Miscellaneous measurements in West Fork of Tolovana River drainage basin, 1908. 



Date. 



August 13 

Do... 

Do... 

Do... 
August li 

Do... 



Stream and locality. 



West Fork of Tolovana River near Moose Creek 

Starvation Creek at mouth 

Moose Creek at mouth 

Goose Creek 4 miles above mouth 

Goose Creek below Buckeye Creek 

Buckeye Creek at mouth 



Drainage 
area. 


Discharge. 


Sq. miles. 


Sec.-ft. 


43.8 


4.0 


23.8 


2.2 


19.8 


1.9 


41.0 


3.2 


20.8 


1.6 


10.6 


.20 



Discharge 

per square 

mile. 



Sec.-ft. 
0.091 
.092 
.096 
.078 
.077 
.019 



BAKER CREEK DRAINAGE BASIN. 



GENERAL DESCRIPTION. 

Baker Creek and its tributaries drain a roughly fan-shaped area 542 
square miles in extent. The greatest width of this basin from east to 
west is 37 miles, and its greatest width from north to south, 21 miles. 

The name Baker Creek is applied to the extreme western fork. It 
heads near Sullivan Creek on the south slope of R ought op Mountain 
and flows eastward for about 17 miles; it then makes a right-angle 
turn to the south around the north end of Bean Ridge which it fol- 
lows closely for about 4 miles below the turn, where it crosses the flat 
and receives its two largest tributaries, Hutlinana and Hutlitakwa 
creeks, which drain over half the entire area. It is about 28 miles 
long and enters the Tanana 70 miles from the Yukon. 

The system of main and tributary streams is very unsymmetrical, 
about 88 per cent of the area lying on the left side. South of the 
creek the country rises abruptly to the summit of Bean Ridge and 



THE RAMPART DISTRICT. 73 

furnishes no tributaries of importance. On the north the valley 
spreads out into a broad, alluvial flat with a very gradual slope until 
near the head of the tributaries, where it rises abruptly to the summit 
of the divide. 

No values have yet been found on the main creek, the chief pro- 
ducing creeks being Thanksgiving, Glenn, Eureka, and Pioneer. 

The basin as a whole is favored with an abundant and diversified 
growth of timber. In the upper drainage this growth is small, but 
has furnished sufficient supply for fuel and cabins; on the flats, par- 
ticularly in the lower valley of the Hutlinana, there is considerable 
spruce suitable for milling. Several sawmills have been in operation 
during the past two or three winters, but their output has been mainly 
flume lumber. On the slope near Hot Springs there is a heavy growth 
of birch and poplar. 

Baker Creek has such a low gradient that its water can never be 
conveyed to any of the present mines by a gravity system, but as a 
supply for pumping it is ample, and it is so situated that it is worth 
consideration for that purpose. 

BAKER CREEK AT ROAD CROSSING. 

A gaging station was established on Baker Creek just above the 
road crossing, and below Eureka Creek. The gage is referred to a 
stake driven in the left bank about 15 feet from the gage, the top of 
which is 6.33 feet above the gage datum. Readings were taken twice 
a day by Charles H. Dickson, but as no measurements were made 
during the higher stages in September, no daily discharges can be 
computed. 

Discharge measurements of Baher Creek at road crossing, 1908. 



Date. 


Gage 
height. 


Discharge. 


August 


Feet. 
1.00 
1.03 
.98 


Sec.-ft. 
41.2 


August 2 


44.5 


August 2 / 


42.8 







ALLEN CREEK. 

Allen Creek, which enters the North Fork of Baker Creek about 2 J 
miles above the mouth of New York Creek, is about 8 miles long. It 
flows southwestward in a winding course between deep-cut, mucky 
banks, splitting at many places into several channels, causing numer- 
ous island-like formations. The banks are lined with an almost 
impenetrable growth of willows. The left slope is rocky and barren 
and in some places rises almost vertically from. 600 to 800 feet above 
the stream. The right side of the valley, which furnishes the greater 



74 



WATER IN YUKON-TAN AN A REGION. 1907-1908. 



part of the run-off, slopes gradually to the summit, which is capped 
by rocky cliffs. Allen Creek has been considered as a possible auxil- 
iary water supply for the Thanksgiving Creek mines. 

The following measurements were made August 22, 1908, at trail 
crossing: One mile above mouth, discharge, 4.9 second-feet; drainage 
area, 15.3 square miles; discharge, 0.320 second-foot per square mile. 
Five miles above mouth, discharge, 2.7 second-feet; drainage area, 
5.9 square miles; discharge, 0.457 second-foot per square mile. 

NEW YORK CREEK AT THANKSGIVING DITCH INTAKE. 

New York Creek rises in a rather low saddle opposite the head- 
waters of Minook Creek and flows south westward about 10 miles to 
North Fork of Baker Creek. The upper valley of this creek is narrow, 
V-shaped, and precipitous. 

June 6, 1908, a gage was installed on New York Creek above the 
intake to Thanksgiving ditch, and daily readings were taken by 
employees of Frank G. Manley. 

Discharge measurements of Neio York Creek at Thanksgiving ditch intake, 1908. 



Date. Hydrographer. 


Gage 
height. 


Discharge. 


June 6 


CO. Covert 

do 


Feet. 
0.40 
.34 
.05 
.09 
.12 


Sec.-ft. 
5.3 


June 8 


4.5 


July 7 


A. v. Thorns ; 

C.E.Ellsworth 


.71 


August? 

August 18 


1.1 


.do 


1.4 









Daily gage height and estimaied discharge of Neio York Creek at Thanksgiving ditch 

intake, 1908. 

[Elevation, 800 feet; drainage area, 4.7 square miles.] 





June. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 

Feet. 
0.05 
.05 
.10 
.05 
.05 

.05 
.05 
.05 
.05 
.15 

.10 
.05 
.05 
.05 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


1 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


Sec.-ft. 

0.7 

.7 

1.2 

.7 
.7 

.7 
.7 
.7 
. 7 
1.7 

1.2 

.7 
.7 
.7 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


Feet. 
0.40 
.35 
.50 
.35 
.30 


Sec.-ft. 
5.4 


2 








4.5 


3 








7.2 


4 








4.5 


5 








3.7 


f) 


0.40 
..35 
.55 
.30 
.25 

.25 
.25 
.20 
.30 
.40 

.30 
.25 
.25 
.25 
.40 

.30 
.25 
.20 
.20 
.15 


5.4 
4.5 
8.2 
3.7 
3.0 

3.0 
3.0 
2.3 
3.7 

5.4 

3.7 
3.0 
3.0 
3.0 
5.4 

3.7 
3.0 
2.3 
2.3 

1.7 






3.4 


7 






.25 
.35 
.30 
.25 

.20 
.20 
.20 
.20 
.25 

.20 
.25 
.55 
.50 
.45 


3.0 


8 


0.10 
.05 
.05 

"".'65" 

"".'65" 
.05 

.05 
.05 


1.2 

.7 
.7 

. 7 
.•7 
.7 
.7 
.7 

.7 

.7 

1.4 

3.0 

2.3 

1.7 
1.7 
1.2 
1.2 
1.4 


4.5 


9 

10 


3.7 
3.0 


11 

12 

13 


2.3 
2.3 
2.3 


14 

15 


2.3 
3.0 


10 






2.3 


17 






3.0 


18 






8.2 


19 






.25 
.20 

.15 
.15 
.10 
.10 


7.2 


20 






6.3 


21 








22 










23 










24 






' 


25 






1 :. 



THE EAMPAHT DISTRICT. 



75 



Daily gage height and estimated discharge of New York Creek at Thanksgiving ditch 

intake, 1908 — Continued. 





June. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Day 


Gage, 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage. Dis- 
height. 1 charge. 


Gage. Dis- Gage, 
height, charge, height. 


'Dis- 
charge. 


26 


Feet. 
.10 
.10 
.10 
.10 
.05 


Sec.-ft. 
1.2 
1.2 
1.2 
1.2 
.7 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


Feet. Sec.-ft. 
.15 1.7 
.10 1. 2 
.10 1. 2 
.10 1. 2 
.10 1.2 
.SO 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


27 










28 










29 










30 








31 














Mean 

Mean per square mile 

Run-off, depth in inches 


3.15 1 .843 

670 ! .179 

02 .09 


1. 29 

.275 

25 


4. 10 

873 

C5 



CALIFORNIA CREEK AT THANKSGIVING DITCH INTAKE. 

California Creek enters New York Creek from the right about 5 
miles from its source. 

August 7, 1908, a gage was installed on California Creek above the 
intake to Thanksgiving ditch and daily readings were taken by 
employees of Frank G. Manley. 

Discharge measurements of Calif ornia Creek at Thanksgiving ditchintake, 1908. 



Date. 




Discharge. 



August 1 . . 
August 18. 



Sec.-ft. 



2.4 
2.9 



Daily gage height and estimated discharge of California Creek at Thanksgiving ditch 

intake, 1908. 

[Elevation, 825 feet; drainage area, 6.7 square miles.] 





August. 


September. 


Day. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


1 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


Feet. 
1.10 
1.15 
1.25 
1.20 
1.15 


Sec.-ft. 
4.2 
5.2 
7.5 
6.3 
5.2 

4.7 
4.2 
5.2 
4.2 
3.2 

4.2 
3.2 
3.2 1 
4.2 
4.2 

3.2 
4.4 
8.7 
8.7 
7.5 


21 


Feet. 
1.00 
1.00 

i«po 

1.00 


Sec.-ft. 
2.4 
2.4 
2.4 
2.4 
2.4 

2.4 

2.4 
2.4 
2.4 

2.4 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


2 






22 

23 

24 

25 




3 :: 










4 








5 










6 






26 

27 

28 

29 

30 

31 

Mean .... 


1.00 
1.00 
1.00 
1.00 
1.00 






7 






1.10 
1.15 
1.10 
1.05 

1.10 
1.05 
1.05 
1.10 
1.10 

1.05 
1.11 
1.30 
1.30 
1.25 




8 


1.00 
1.00 
1.00 


2.4 

2.4 
2.4 

2.4 
2.4 
2.4 
2.4 
2.4 

2.4 
2.4 
2.9 
3.2 
2.4 




9 




10 




11 




Vi 


1.00 




13 . ... 




2.45 

.366 

.31 




5.07 


14 


1.00 
1.00 

1.00 
1.00 
1.03 
1.05 
1.00 


Mean per square 
mile '. 






15 


.757 


16 


Run-off, depth in 
inches 




.56 


17 








18 




19 




20 









76 



WATER IN YUKON-TANANA REGION, 1907-1908. 



THANKSGIVING DITCH NEAR OUTLET. 

Thanksgiving ditch taps New York and Cahfornia creeks a short 
distance above their confluence. It is about 4 miles long and sup- 
plies water for use on Thanksgiving Creek, a small tributary of Baker 
Creek and one of the richest in the Rampart region. The chief 
workings so far have been near the head of the creek. Prospecting 
with a churn drill has been carried on below the present workings 
and also between Thanksgiving and Omega creeks. 

During the early part of the season of 1908 much money was spent 
in constructing bed-rock flumes, installing machinery, and breaking 
the ground preparatory to stripping, but owing to the exceptionally 
low water the work was much curtailed. 

A steam scraper for use in removing tailings from the sluice boxes 
was in operation on this creek during part of the season. It was of 
the bottomless type, with a capacity of 2 cubic yards. A 35-horse- 
power boiler and a 3-drum hoist, operated by one man, moved 150 
cubic yards of dirt an average distance of 150 feet on 1 cord of wood. 

A gage was established on this ditch June 6, 1908, about one- 
fourth mile above the outlet. 



Discharge aneasurements of Thanksgiving ditch near outlet, 1908. 



Date. 


Hydrographer. 


Gage 
height. 


Discharge. 


June 6 


C. C. Covert 


Feet. 
1.20 
1.20 
.60 
.60 
.68 
.60 


Sec.-ft. 
11.2 


June 8 


do 


10.7 


July 7 


A. v. Thorns 


2.9 


August 7 


C.E.Ellsworth 


2. 1 


August 18 . 


..do 


2. 7 


August 29 


do 


1.8 









Daily gage height and estimated discharge of Thanksgiving ditch near outlet, 1903. 





June. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


1 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


Feet. 
0.65 
.60 
.75 
.70 
.60 

.60 
.60 
.65 
.60 
.70 

.65 
.65 
.60 
.60 


Sec.-ft. 
2.4 
2.1 
3.3 
2.8 
2.1 

2.1 
2.1 
2.4 
2.1 

2.8 

2.4 
2.4 
2.1 
2.1 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


Feet. 
0.90 
.95 
1.20 
1.10 
1.00 


Sec.-ft. 
5.3 


2 


t 






6.1 


3 i 






10.9 


4 i 






8.9 


5 -- 






7.0 


6 


1.20 
1.05 
1.20 
1.10 
1.05 

.95 

.95 

.90 

1.10 

1.25 


10.9 
7.9 

10.9 
8.9 
7.9 

6.1 
6.1 
5.3 
8.9 
12.0 






6.2 


7 






.90 

1.05 

.95 

.90 

.80 
.75 
.75 
.80 
.85 


5.3 


8 


0.60 
.55 
.55 

""'".'so' 
"".'so' 

.50 


2.1 

1.8 
1.8 

1.7 
1.6 
1.6 
1.6 
1.6 


7.9 


9 


6.1 


10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 


5.3 

3.9 
3.3 
3.3 
3.9 

4.5 



THE RAMPART DISTRICT. 77 

Daily gage height and estimated discharge of Thanksgiving ditch near outlet, 1908 — Cont'd. 





June. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


16 


Feet. 
1.10 
1.05 
1.10 
1.00 
1.10 

1.25 

1.00 

.90 

.80 

.70 

.70 
.70 
.70 

.70 
.65 


Sec.-ft. 
8.9 
7.9 
8.9 
7.0 
8.9 

12.0 
7.0 
5.3 
3.9 
2.8 

2.8 
2.8 
2.8 
2.8 
2.4 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


Feet. 

0.50 

.55 


Sec.-ft. 
1.6 
1.8 
2.8 
3.9 
2.8 

2.8 
2.8 
2.4 
2.4 
2.4 

2.4 
2.1 
2.1 
2.1 
2.1 
3.7 


Feet. 
0.80 
.85 
1.25 
1.20 
1.15 


Sec.-ft. 
3 9 


17 






4 5 


18 






12.0 


19 






.80 
.70 

.70 
.70 

.05 
.65 


10.9 


20 






9.9 


21 








22 . 






1 


23 







1 


24 






1 


25 






] 


26 






.05 
.60 
.60 
.60 
.60 






27 










28 










29 










30 










31 












. 












Mean 




6.84 




2.37 




2.25 




6.46 









CALIFORNIA CREEK BRANCH OF THANKSGIVING DITCH NEAR INTAKE. 

June 6, 1908, a gage was placed in the California Creek branch a 
short distance below the intake, and was read by employees of 
Frank G. Manley. 

Discharge measurements of California branch of Thanksgiving ditch near intake, 1908. 




June 6 1 C. C. Covert 

June 8 do 

July 7 1 A. V. Thorns... 

August 7 j C. E. Ellsworth 

August 18 do 



Feet. 

0.85 

1.02 

.65 

.64 

.72 



Scc.-ft. 
(i.O 
7.9 
2.1 
2.0 
2.5 



Daily gage height and estimated discharge of California branch of Thanksgiving ditch 

near intake, 1908. 





June. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


1 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


Feet. 
0.65 
.60 
.70 
.65 
.65 

.05 
.05 
.60 
.65 
.70 


Sec.-ft. 
2.1 
1.8 
2.5 
2.1 
2.1 

2.1 
2.1 

1.8 
2.1 
2.5 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


Fed. . 
0.80 


Scc.-ft. 
3.6 


2 




.90 1 5.3 


3 




.85 4.4 


4 






1. 00 7. 9 


5 




. 90 5. 3 


6 


0. 85 4. 4 






.85 


4.4 


7 


.80 

1.00 

.75 

.90 


3.0 
7.9 
3.0 
5.3 






4.4 


8 


0.05 
.65 
.65 


2.1 
2.1 
2.1 


.85 
.85 
.80 


4.4 


9 

10 


4.4 
3.6 



78 



WATER IN YUKON-TANANA REGION, 1907-1908. 



Daily gage height and estimated discharge of California branch of Thanksgiving ditch 

near intake, 1908 — Continued. 



Day, 


June. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


11 


Feet. 
0.80 
.85 
.80 
.90 
.95 

.85 
.85 
.85 
.80 
1.30 

1.00 
.90 

.80 
.80 
.75 

.70 
.70 
.70 
.70 
.65 


Sec.-ft. 
3.6 
4.4 
3.6 
'5.3 
6.5 

4.4 
4.4 
4.4 
3.6 
17.0 

7.9 
5.3 
3.6 
3.6 
3.0 

2.5 
2.5 
2.5 
2.5 
2.1 


Feet. 

0.65 

.65 

.65 

.65 


Sec.-ft. 
2.1 
2.1 
2.1 
2.1 


Feet. 

"6.65' 

'""."65' 
.65 

.65 
.65 
.72 
.75 
.70 

.70 
.70 
.65 
.65 


Sec.-ft. 
2.1 
2.1 
2.1 
2.1 
2.1 

2.1 
2.1 
2.7 
3.0 
2.5 

2.5 
2.5 
2.1 
2.1 
2.1 

2.1 
2:1 
2.1 
2.1 
2.1 
2.1 


Feet. 
0.80 
.75 
.80 
.80 
.75 

.80 

1.00 

1.00 

.75 

.95 


Sec.-ft. 
3 6 


12 


3 


13 


3 6 


14 


3 6 


15 


3 


16 






3 6 


17 






7.9 


18 






7 9 


19 






3 


20 







6 5 


21 








22 











23 


1 






24 


i 




25 








26 






.65 
.65 
.65 
.65 
.65 


1 


27 








28 










29 


1 


■ 




30 


[ 






31 
























Mean 




4.68 




2.08 




2.20 




4.07 









EUREKA CREEK. 

Eureka Creek rises in the Minook-Baker divide just east of Eureka 
Dome, flows soutliwestward for about 5 miles, then takes a more 
southerly course and unites with Baker Creek at the point where that 
creels makes its decided turn to the south. The total length of 
Eureka Creek is about 12 miles. It receives Boston Creek about 5 
miles below its head. 

Above Boston Creek the valley resembles that of Pioneer Creek. 
The south side rises abruptly about 600 feet above the stream and 
furnishes no tributaries, while the north slope is gentle and is cut 
by several small streams. Below Boston Creek the valley rapidly 
broadens into Baker Flats, which are covered with a dense growth of 
willows intermixed with some good-sized spruce and which the 
stream crosses in a meandering and sluggish manner through a deep- 
cut, mucky channel. 

The main diggings are near the junction of Boston Creek, although 
placer-gold values have been found at several points above. 





Miscellaneous measurements of Eureka Creek, 1908. 




Date. 


Locality. 


Drainage 
area. 


Discharge. 


Discharge 

per square 

mile. 


August 21 


Claim 14 above 


Sq. miles. 
2.8 
5.8 


Sec.-ft. 
0.77 
1.3 


Sec.-ft. 
0.275 


Do 


Claim 5 above 


.224 


August 6 


Mouth 


37. 7 4. 8 


.P7 













THE RAMPAET DISTRICT. 



79 



PIONEER CREEK. 

Pioneer Creek heads in the south slope of Elephant Mountain 
and flows south westward. It is about 11 miles long and, for about 
5 miles of its course, parallels Eureka Creek, to which it is a tributary, 
some 7 miles from the head. 

On the south side, which the creek closely follows, the valley rises 
almost precipitously about 800 feet above the bed of the stream 
and is broken only by small gulches. The north side, in contrast, 
exhibits a very gentle slope marked by a prominent bench which is 
cut at right angles to Pioneer Creek by several small tributaries of 
similar appearance. There is very little timber in the valley, the 
supply being barely sufficient for fuel. Most of the diggings are 
on the north slope. What Cheer Bar, Seattle Bar, Doric Creek, 
Boothby Creek, and Joe Bush Creek cover the principal claims. 

A ditch 4 miles long diverts water from Pioneer Creek just above 
Joe Bush Creek and carries it to the What Cheer Bar workings. A 
measurement was made on this ditch near Seattle Creek June 7, 
1908, as follows: Gage height, 1.95 feet; discharge, 10.6 second-feet. 

A gaging station was established on this stream at the intake of 
What Cheer Bar ditch June 7, 1908. Daily readings were taken by 
employees of Frank G. Manley. 

Discharge measurements of Pioneer Creek at What Cheer Bar ditch intake, 1908. 



Date. 


Ilydrographer. 


Gage 
height. 


Discharge. 


June 7 


C.C. Covert... 


Feet. 
0.95 
.65 
.50 
.52 
.70 


Sec.-ft. 
10.8 


June 21 


A. V. Thorns 


4.0 


Augusts 

August 19 


r. E. Ellsworth 


2.6 


do 


• 2.6 


September 1 


do 


7.2 







Daily gage height and estimated discharge of Pioneer Creek at What Cheer Bar ditch 

intake, 1908. 

[Elevation, 900 feet; drainage area, 8.]r square miles.] 



8. 

9. 

10. 



June. 



Day. 



Gage I Dis- 
height. ! charge. 



Feet. Sec.-ft. 



0.95 
.85 
.83 
,80 



August. 



Gage Dis- 
height.' charge. 



10.8 
7.9 
6.6 
0.6 



Feet. 
0.55 



.55 



.50 



Sec.-ft. 
2.9 
2.9 
2.9 
2.9 
2.9 



Se])tembor. 



Gage 


Dis- 


height. 


charge. 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


0.70 


4.7 


.67 


3.7 


.78 


6.2 


.72 


4.8 




4.4 




4.0 


.63 


3.7 




3.6 




3.4 




3.2 



80 



WATER IN YUKON-TANANA REGION, 1907-190S. 



Daily gage height and estimated discharge of Pioneer Creek at What Cheer Bar ditch 

intake, 7905— Continued. 





June. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


Gage 
height. 

Feet. 
.75 
.75 
.70 
.85 
.95 

.85 
.80 
.75 
.75 
.70 

.65 
.65 
.00 
.60 
.60 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height . 


Dis- 
charge. 


11 ... . 


Sec.-fl. 
5.6 
5.6 
4.7 
7.9 
10.8 

7.9 
6.6 
5.6 
5.6 
4.7 

4.0 
4.0 
3.4 
3.4 
3.4 

3.4 
3.4 
2.9 
2.9 
2.9 


Feet. 

"b'.ho 
""."55' 

'"'.'56' 


Sec.-ft. 
2.6 
2.6 
2.6 
2.7 
2.8 

2.9 
2.9 
2.9 
2.9 
2.9 

2.9 
2.9 
2.8 
2.7 
2.6 

2.6 
2.6 
2.6 
3.1 
3.6 
4.1 


Feet. 

"'o.'si' 
"".'eo' 

"".'so" 

.75 


Sec.-ft. 
3 


12 


2.8 


13 : . . 


2.6 


14 


3.0 


15 


3 4 


16 


4 2 


17 


5.0 


18 


5.8 


19 


6.6 


20 


5 6 


21 




22 






23 






24 






25 






26 






27 








28 








29 








30 


.55 






31 
















Mean 




5.44 

.672 

.60 




2.52 

.311 

.36 




4.18 






.516 


Run-off, depth in inches 




.39 










Note. — As there was practically no rain in this ssction during July it is presumable that the discharge 
for the month averaged not to exceed 2.9 sscond-fset. 



HUTLINANA CREEK. 

Hutlinana Creek is tributary to Baker Creek about 7 miles 
above its mouth, near the southern border of the Baker Flats. Its 
course is in general parallel to that of Eureka Creek. For the first 
mile or two the stream flows nearly due north; it then turns gradually 
toward the west, passing the south slope of Wolverine Mountain, 
and finally takes a general southwesterly course to the mouth. It 
has a broad, gravelly bed with sharp banks and follows a winding 
course, making many abrupt turns in passing from one side of the 
valley to the other. In general, however, it keeps near the left side. 
The topography of Hutlinana Valley presents strong contrasts — 
from Wolverine Mountain, with an elevation of 4,600 feet, to the 
marshy, alluvial Baker Flats. 

Above Elephant Creek the east side of Hutlinana Valley rises 
precipitously and is broken by fewer tributaries than the west side, 
which is cut by many small streams, and exhibits a gradual, bench- 
like slope for a considerable distance back from the stream, beyond 
which it rises rapidly to the summit of Elephant and Wolverine 
mountains. The gravelly valley bottom forms a water course of 



THE KAMPAET DISTRICT. 



81 



such nature that during a period of protracted drought 50 per cent 
or even more of the run-off may pass beneath the surface. Many 
other streams in the Rampart region have the same characteristic 
feature. 

The valley contains a heavy growth of timber, much of which is 
suitable for milling. A sawmill has been in operation on the creek, 
and, considering the value of sawed lumber, it is surprising that 
such work is not carried on more extensively. 

About 1 mile below Elephant Gulch a hot spring rises in the bed 
of the creek of a temperature and size sufficient to prevent the creek 
from freezing for a considerable distance below, even during the 
intense cold of the winter months. In the vicinity of the spring there 
are several acres of warm ground, now covered with a luxuriant growth 
of large spruce, poplar, and birch, which on clearing would be suitable 
for agriculture. Mr. F. E. Diver has taken up a homestead about the 
spiing, and during the summer of 1908 he constructed a large cabin 
that could be used as a road house, put under cultivation some small 
patches of ground, and successfully raised several varieties of vege- 
tables. If paying mines should be developed along the creek, Mr. 
Diver would find a ready and profitable market for his produce. 

Considerable exploring has been done near the headwaters of the 
creek, but the presence of ground water and the lack of suitable 
machinery have prevented systematic prospecting and the working 
of ground that, under more favorable conditions, might yield gold in 
paying quantities. 

Prospecting with a churn drill was probably done on Hutlinana 
Creek during the winter of 1908-9. 

A gage was installed June 9, 1908, on the left bank a short distance 
below Cairo Creek, from which readings were taken during the sum- 
mer by F. E. Diver. On September 1, 1908, a gage was installed 
above Cairo Creek on the left bank, about 500 feet below the hot 
springs, from which all subsequent readings will be made. 

Discharge measurements of Hutlinana Creek below Cairo Creek, 1908. 



Date. 


Hydrographer. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


June 9 


C.C.Covert . ... .... 


Feet. 

1.32 

1.00 

.50 

.65 


Sec.-ft. 
76.3 


June 25 


A. V. Thorns 


41.2 


August 19 

September 1 


C. E. Ellsworth 

do 


10.5 
14.9 









.81007— iRR 228—09- 



82 



WATER IN YUKON-TAN AN A REGION, 1907-1908. 



Daily gage height and estimated discharge of Hutlinana Creek below Cairo Creek, 1908. 
[Elevation, 1,050 feet; drainage area, 44.2 square miles.] 





June. 


July. 


August. 


Day. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 

Feet. 
0.90 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


1 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


Sec.-ft. 
32.0 


Feet. 
0.60 


Sec.-ft. 
12.8 


2 






. 90 32. 


12.7 


3. 






31.0 
30.0 
29.0 

28.0 


12.fi 


4 : 






12.5 


5 






12.4 


0. 






12.3 


7 






27.0 
26 
25 
24.0 

24.0 
24.0 
24.0 
24.0 
24.0 

24 
22 6 
21.3 
20 

18.7 

17.4 
17.4 
17.4 
17.4 
17.4 

17.4 
15.8 
14.3 
12 8 
12.8 
12.8 


12.2 


8 






12.1 


9 


1.30 
1.30 


74.0 
74.0 

85.6 
97.0 

109 

122 

122 

109 
97 

85.6 
74.0 
66.0 

59.4 
51.8 
51.8 
51.8 
41.4 

37.6 
34.7 
32 
32.0 
24.0 


"""".'so' 

.80 
.80 

"".'so" 

.80 
.80 



.70 
"".'76' 

.70 


12.0 


10 

11 


12. 

-11.8 


12 

13 

14 

15 

16 . 


1.50 
1.60 
1.70 
1.70 


11.7 

11.6 

11.4 

11.3 

' 11.2 


17 

18 

19 

20 


1.50 
1.40 
1.30 


'"".'56' 
.50 

.50 


11.0 
10.8 
10.5 
10.5 


21 '. 




10.5 


22 


1.10 
1.10 
1.10 
1.00 




23. 






24 






25 






26 






27 








28 


.90 
.90 
.80 






29 


1 


30 


1 


31 














Mean 




69 6 
157 
1.28 




22 

.498 
.58 




11.7 


Mean per square mile 





.265 


Run-off, depth in inches 




.20 









MISCELLANEOUS MEASUREMENTS. 

Most of the miscellaneous measurements made in the Baker Creek 
drainage basin are given in the following table. 

Ohio Creek and Elephant Gulch are small tributaries of Hutlinana 
Creek from the right near the headwaters. Goff and Applegate 
creeks, the two largest tributaries of Hutlinana Creek, enter it from 
the east about 12 miles from the head. Applegate Creek is said to 
have several good-sized thermal springs in its upper drainage which 
furnish the greater portion of the run-off during the low- water season. 

The measurements on Hutlinana Creek below the mouth of Caribou 
Creek were made about 500 feet below the proposed ditch intake, as 
determined by surveys made during the summer of 1908 in connection 
with the project to convey water from Hutlinana Creek to the Baker 
Creek mines. 



THE KAMPAKT DISTBICT. 
Miscellaneous measurements in Baker CreeJc drainage basin, 1908. 



83 



Date, 



August 30. . . 

Do 

Do 

August 22. . . 

June 6 

August 29. . . 

June 7 

August 20. . . 
September 2. 
August 20. . . 

Do 

Do 

Do 



Stream and locality. 



North Fork of Baker Creek below Wolverine Creek. 

Wolverine Creek 2 miles above mouth 

Wolverine Creek at mouth 

New York Creek at trail crossing 

Thanksgiving ditch at outlet 

do 

What Cheer Bar ditch near Seattle Creek 

Hutlinana Creek below Caribou Creek 

do 

Ohio Creek at trail crossing 

Elephant Gulch at mouth 

Gofl Creek near mouth 

Applegate Creek 1 mile above mouth 



Drainage 
area. 



Sq. miles. 

19.7 
6.2 
8.2 

17.3 



16.1 
16.1 
3.2 
3.3 
11.4 
18.9 



Discharge. 



Sec.-ft. 

5.2 

2.1 

2.6 

al.4 

II. 1 



Discharge 

per square 

mile. 



1.7 
4.0 
1.9 
3.1 
.93 
1.1 
2.4 
2.8 



Sec.-ft. 
0.264 
.339 
.317 



.118 
.192 
.290 
.333 
.211 
.148 



a 1.7 second-feet diverted above point of measurement. 



PATTERSON CREEK DRAINAGE BASIN. 

Patterson Creek is formed by the junction of Sullivan and Cache 
creeks and is tributary to Tanana River about 40 miles below the 
mouth of Baker Creek. It drains an area of low relief, the most 
prominent feature of which is Bean Ridge on the south, which fur- 
nishes several small tributaries. Woodchopper Creek is tributary 
to Patterson Creek about 6 miles from the Tanana. 

Sullivan Creek, the right fork of Patterson Creek, rises on the 
south slope of Roughtop Mount, and for about 10 miles flows a little 
west of south through a wide valley with gentle slopes and high, 
broad benches. Birch and spruce timber suitable for cabins and 
fuel is abundant in the lower valley. 

Values were located on Sullivan Creek by Messrs. Snyder and 
Kemper January 1, 1907, just befow the mouth of Tufty Gulch, 
since which time work on Discovery and one or two other claims has 
been successfully carried on. The bench on the left side was pros- 
pected quite extensively during the summer of 1908, and values are 
said to have been found at several places. Lack of water is apt to 
seriously interfere with extensive operations along the present line 
of exploration. Some prospecting has been done on Cache Creek, 
but no values have been found. 

A gage was established on Sullivan Creek August 4, 1908, 3 miles 
above the mouth, and readings taken by employees on the ditch, but 
as measurements were made only at low water no daily discharges 
can be computed. 



84 WATER IN YUKON-TAN ANA EEGION, 1907-1908. 

Miscellaneous measurements in Patterson Creek drainage basin, 1908. 



Date. 


Stream and locality. 


Drainage 
area. 


Gage 
height. 


Discharge. 


Discharge 

per square 

mile. 


August 4 


Cache Creek at trail crossing 


Sq. miles. 
22.7 
20.7 
20.7 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 
3.2 
5.7 
4.5 

2.8 
4.4 


Sec.-ft. 
0.141 


Do 

August 24 


Sullivan Creek 3 miles above mouth . . 
.. .do 


0.80 
.70 


.275 
217 


August 26 

August 25 


Quartz Creek near mouth 

Woodchopper Creek at trail crossing. . 


8.0 
19.7 


.350 
.223 









FIFTYMILE RIVER AT WHITE HORSE. 

Since 1902 the White Pass and Yukon Railroad Company has kept 
daily records of the stage of Fiftymile River at White Horse, together 
with the dates of opening and closing of navigation. In 1908 mem- 
bers of the United States Geological Survey, on their way to the 
interior of Alaska, made the following measurements of the river at 
this point. 

June 10, gage height, 9| inches; discharge, 4,490 second-feet. 

June 16, gage height, 16f inches; discharge, 5,100 second-feet. 

Drainage area, 7,630 square miles; discharge, 0.588 and 0.668 
second-foot per square mile, respectively. 

COMPARATIVE DISCHARGE OF DIFFERENT AREAS. 

In order to afford a comparison of the discharge of different drain- 
age areasin the Yukon-Tanana region during 1907-1908 the following 
tables have been prepared, showing the minimum daily flow and the 
mean weekly supply in second-feet and, for some streams, in second- 
feet per square mile. These tables can be used in estimating the 
discharge of streams in this region having similar drainage areas, 
but such estimates will only roughly approximate the true discharge 
because of the variation of the controlling conditions in the indi- 
vidual drainage basin. The diagram (fig. 3) is plotted from the 
table of discharge in second-feet per square mile on page 89. It 
illustrates graphically in weekly periods the discharge of various 
streams in second-feet per square mile, and it has been prepared for 
use in connection with the tables of comparative discharge. 

A table of drainage areas of a few of the important streams in 
this region other than those studied is given on page 89. If this 
table is used in connection with the precipitation records and the 
tables of comparative discharge, it may prove useful in making rough 
estimates of minimum stream flow in areas for which no data have 
been obtained. 



COMPARATIVE DISCHARGE OF DIFFERENT AREAS. 

Discharge In second-feet per square mile. 



85 




86 



WATEK IN YUKON-TAN AN A REGION, 1907-1903. 

Estimated minimum daily flow of streamfis in Yukon- Tanana region, 1907-1908. 

FAIRBANKS DISTRICT. 













Minimum 




Stream and locality. 


Eleva- 
tion. 


Date. 


Minimum 
flow. 


Drainage 
area. 


discharge 

per square 

mile. 


Duration 
of record. 




Feet. 


1907. 


Sec-feet. 


Sq. miles. 


Sec-foot. 




Little Chena River above El- 


800 


July 22-25, 2&- 


42 


79 


0.532 


July 22- 


liott Creek. 




31. 








Sept.lO. 


Elliott Creek above Sorrels Creek 


800 


July 31 


2.5 


13.8 


.181 


Do. 


Sorrels Creek above mouth 


800 
925 


do 


6 
18 


21 
39 


.286 
.462 


Do. 


Fish Creek above Fairbanks 

Creek. 
Faith Creek at mouth 


July 30-31 


Do. 


1,400 


July 10 

July 10-12 


19.2 


51 


.376 


June 20 


McManus Creek at mouth 


1,400 


15 


80. 


.188 


Do. 


Chatanika River below Faith 


1,350 


July 31 


54 


132 


.409 


July 17- 


Creek. 












Sept.30. 


Kokomo Creek near mouth 


750 


July 23,30-31-. 


7.9 


26 


.304 


July 9- 
Aug. 14. 


Chatanika River below Poker 


700 


July 4-7, 10.... 


167 


456 


.360 


June 20- 


Creek. 




1908. 








Oct. 14. 


Little Chena River above Elliott 


800 


Aug. 11 


28 


79 


.354 


May 20- 


Creek. 












Aug. 26. 


Little Chena River below Fish 


700 


Aug. 12-13 


59 


228 


.259 


May 1- 


Creek. 












Aug. 27. 


Elliott Creek above Sorrels 


800 


Aug. 4-7,9-13. 


4.4 


13.8 


.319 


May 20- 


Creek. 












Aug. 26. 


Sorrels Creek near mouth 


800 


Aug. 3-14 


10 


21 


.476 


Do. 


Fish Creek above Fairbanks 


925 


Aug. 21-Sept. 


12 


39 


.308 


May 22- 


Creek. 




12-13. 








Aug. 27. 


Fish Creek at mouth 


700 


July 17-18, 31- 


22 


90.2 


.244 


May 1- 






Aug.6,12-13 








Aug. 27. 


Miller Creek near mouth 


750 


Aug. 12-13 


4.0 


15 


.267 


May 13- 

Aug.27. 


Chatanika River near Faith 


1,350 


July 21-22 


82 


132 


.621 


July 13- 


Creek. 












Sept.30. 


Chatanika River below Poker 


700 


Oct. 15-16,21.. 


179 


456 


.386 


May 16- 


Creek. 












Oct. 21. 


Washington Creek above Aggie 


600 


July 23 


18 


117 


.154 


May 23- 


Creek. 












Sept. 4. 


"Washington Creek below Aggie 


600 


July 23 


24 


153 


.157 


May 5- 


Creek. 












Sept. 4. 


Aggie Creek above mouth 


' 600 


July 31 


4.5 


35.8 


.126 


May 23- 
Sept. 4. 




CIRCLE DISTRICT. 



Birch Creek at Fourteenmile 

House. 
Mammoth Creek at Miller House 

Porcupine Creek below Bonanza 
Creek. 



700 
1,700 
1,900 



1908. 
Aug. 8. .. 



Oct. 10-13. 

Aug. 7 



825 
13.0 
15.5 



2,150 
37.1 
39.9 



0.384 
.350 
.388 



June 2C- 
Sept.LO. 

Sept. 8- 
Oct. 13. 

July 4- 
Aug. 10. 



RAMPART DISTRICT. 



Minook Creek above Little Mi- 
nook Creek. 
Hoosier Creek at claim 11 above . 

Little Minook Creek at claim 9 

above. 
Hunter Creek at claim 17 above . 

Troublesome Creek below Quail 
Creek. 

New York Creek at Thanksgiv- 
ing ditch intake. 

Thanksgiving ditch near outlet. . 

California Creek branch of 
Thanksgiving ditch near in- 
take. 

Pioneer Creek at W hat Cheer B ar 
ditch intake. 

Hutlinana Creek below Cairo 
Creek. 



425 

600 
1,000 

600 
1,750 

800 



800 
800 



900 
1,050 



1908. 
Aug. 15.. 



Aug, 16-31- 

Sept. 21. 
July 17- Aug. 1. 



Aug. 23. 
Sept. 25. 



June 30- July 
14, Aug. 9- 
17.a 

Aug. 12-16.... 

July 2, 8 



Aug. 8-13, 25- 

28; Sept. 13. 

Aug. 19-21 . . . 



30 

4.7 

.62 

3.7 

4.0 

.7 



1.6 
1.8 



2.6 
10.5 



130 
25.7 

5.9 
33.4 
43.2 

4.7 



8.1 
44.2 



0.231 
.183 
.105 
.111 
.093 
.149 



,321 
.238 



June 7- 
Sept.22. 

Aug. 16- 
Sept.21. 

June 21- 
Sept. 15. 

Aug. 11- 
Sept.l2. 

Aug. 12- 
Sept.25. 

June 6- 
Sept.20. 

Do. 
Do. 



June 7- 
Sept.20. 

June 9- 
Aug.21. 



a No records July 15 to August 7, inclusive; discharge may have been less than 0.7 second-foot. 



COMPARATIVE DISCHAEGE OF DIFFEEENT AREAS. 



87 



Mea7i estimated weekly water supply, in second-feet, from Little Chena and Chatanika 

River basins, Fairbanks district, 1907. 



Date. 



June 17-23 

June 24-30 

July 1-7 

July 8-14 

July 15-21 

July 22-28 

July 2^-August 4 

August 0-11 - 

August 12-18 

August 19-25 

August 26-September 1 . 

September 2-8 

September 9-15 

September 16-22 

September 23-29 

September 30-October 6. 
October 7-13 



bv diver- 1 ^■ 
sionat I pumping 

Sion dl ^ r>lpvfl- 

elevation ^\^},%t 
1,350 feet.] *'?^t"" 



Available for use by diversion at elevation 800 
to 925 feet. 



Chata- ! Chata- 



nika 
River 
near 
Faith 
Creek. 



86 

64 

44 

36 

64 

67 

84 

138 

85 

110 

180 

130 

592 

451 

238 



nika 
River 
below 
Poker 
Creek. 



Little 
Chena 
River 
above 
Elliott 
Creek. 



216 
178 
190 
250 
224 
540 
516 
313 
260 
413 
324 
1,360 
1,480 
737 
655 
415 



52 
80 
110 
73 
56 
90 J 
82 I 



Elliott 
Creek 
above 
Sorrels 
Creek. 



7 

12 
12 
10 

6 
11 

9 



Sorrels 

Creek 

near 

mouth. 



Mean 

Maximum. 
Minimum. 



158 

592 

36 



504 
,480 
190 



110 
52 



10 

12 

6 



16 
24 
10 



Fish 
Creek: 
above 

Fair- 
banks 
Creek. 



Total 
in Little 

Chena 
drainage 

basin. 



12 


24 


95 


18 


55 


165 


24 


42 


188 


16 


26 


125 


10 


24 


96 


18 


26 


145 


15 


26 


132 



32 
55 
24 



136 

188 

95 



Mean estimated weekly water supply , in second-feet, from Little Chena, Chatanika River, 
and Washington Creek basins, Fairbanks district, 1908. 



Date. 



Available 
for use 

by diver- 
sion at 

elevation 

1,350 feet. 



Available 
for use 

by 
pumping 
at eleva- 
tion 700 
feet. 



Available for use by diversion at elevation 800 
to 925 feet. 



Chata- 
nika 

River 
near 

Faith 

Creek. 



May 16-19 

May 20-26 

May 27-June 2 

June 3-9 

June 10-16 

June 17-23 

June 24-30 

July 1-7 

July 8-14 

July 15-21 

July 22-28 

July 29-.\ugust 4 

August 5-11 

August 12-18 

August 19-25 

August 26-September 1 . 

September 2-8 

September 9-15 

September 16-22 

September 23-29 

September 30-October 6. 

October 7-13 

October 14-21 



cl50 
110 
127 
151 
101 
112 
202 
157 
351 
176 
153 

; 152 



Mean 

Maximum. 
Minimum. 



Chata- 
nika 
River 
below 
Poker 
Creek. 

3,220 
3.020 
1,980 
1,360 
1.160 
775 
331 
394 
468 
278 
207 
271 
211 
236 
402 
306 
743 
407 
423 
313 
284 
228 
205 



Little 
Chena 
River 
above 
EUiott 
Creek. 



339 

227 

181 

172 

118 

77 

59 

48 

38 

33 

32 

31 

36 

d59 



EUiott 
Creek 
above 
Sorrels 
Creek. 



93 

30 

15 

25 
9.3 
8.9 
6.8 
5.3 
4.6 
4.5 
4.5 
4.4 

45 
d46 



Sorrels 

Creek 

near 

mouth. 



Fish 
Creek 
above 

Fair- 
banks 
Creek, 



Total 
in Little 

Chena 
drainage 

basin. 



Available 
for use 

by diver- 
sion at 

elevation 
600 feet. 



87 
55 
31 
34 
54 
48 
33 
24 
15 
11 
11 
10 
12 
dl6 



bl62 
98 
79 
50 
44 
42 
30 
23 
16 
13.5 
13.5 
13.5 
14 
17 



162 


749 


104 


15.7 


351 


3,220 


339 1 


93 


101 


205 


^M 


4. 1 



31.5 

87 

10 



44 
162 
13.5 



681 

410 

306 

281 

225 

176 

129 

100 

74 

62 

61 

59 

66 

97 



Washing- 
ton Creek 
below 
Aggie 
Creek. 



a 1,200 

546 

360 

198 

200 

226 

68 

52 

56 

35 

29 

31 

29 

29 

32 

35 

e85 



195 

681 

59 



225 

,200 

29 



a May 13-19. b May 22-26. c July 13-14. d August 19-26. « September 2-4. / September 23-80. 



88 WATEK IN YUKON-TAN ANA REGION, 1907-1908. 

Mean estimated weekly water supply, in second-feet, cf streams in the Circle district, 1908. 



Date. 



June 26-July 3 

July 4-10 

July 11-17 

July 18-24 

July 25-31 

August 1-7 

August 8-14 

August 15-21 

August 22-28 

August 29-September 4. 

September 5-11 

September 12-18 

Septemebr 19-25 

September 26-October 2 . 

October 3-9 

October 10-13 



Mean 

Maximum. 
Minimum . 



Birch 

Creek at 

ferry. 



1,240 

1,600 

1,160 

936 

870 

850 

1,060 

964 

1,280 

2,110 

4,090 

1,510 

1,290 

c942 



1,420 

4,090 

859 



Porcupine 

Creek 

below 

mouth of 

Bonanza 

Creek. 



73.5 
45.3 
21.5 
19.7 
16.0 
a 19. 5 



Mammoth 

Creek at 

Miller 

House. 



I 



6 32.5 
21.9 
23.3 
14.6 
14.4 
13.0 



32.6 
73.5 
16.0 



17.1 
32.5 
13.0 



a August 8-10. ♦ 6 September 8-11. c September 26-29. 

Mean weekly water supply, in second-feet, of streams in the Rampart district, 1908. 





,2 


T-H 


a 


t^ 


^ 


w 


o ca 


C3 


C8 





Date. 


Is 

MM 

§ 


Mt 

O 

.2 

§ 

o 


.2 

+3 


a 

M% 

o 

1 






Mri 
(Ho 

M M 


01 

A PI 
o 

S o 

..— ir^ 1— < 


p; 

o 
+^ 

^^ 
.a§ 

'5b 
CO 
.iil 
P! 

03 


^^ 

^^ 

M^ 

w 

S CD 


53 


"3 
.0 , 

^^ 

01 0> 

00 

o3 
PI 

+3 

PI 




i 


W 


h^ 


W 


tH 


^ 


O 


en 


Ph 


W 


June 6-12 


ol36 

164 

136 

75 










4.4 
3.4 
2.8 
1.0 


4.6 
4.6 
7.2 
2.3 


8.4 
8.7 
6.0 
2.7 


07. 2 
7.0 
3.8 
3.0 


&82. 


June 13-19 










103 


June 20-26 




C3.1 
1.6 






51.4 


June 27- July 3 

July 4-10 






31.1 


77 




9.9 






.8 


2.1 


2.3 




27.0 


July 11-17 


63 




5.0 






d.8 


d2.1 


d2. 2 




23 8 


July 18-24 


41 




.62 














18.5 


July 25-31 


35 




.62 














14 8 


August 1-7 


36 




.78 












2.9 


12.5 


August 8-14 


32 




.71 


e4. 8 


/6. 7 


.8 


2.1 


1.7 


2.6 


11.8 


August 15-21 


33 


?4. 7 


.82 


4.6 


6.6 


1.5 


2.4 


2.5 


2.9 


10.8 


August 22-28 


34 


4.7 


.87 


4.4 


7.5 


1.4 


2.2 


2.4 


2.7 




August 29-Septem- 






















ber 4 


62 
83 


16.4 
14.8 


4.4 

2.8 


12.2 
ft 14. 9 


20.9 
37.6 


3.9 
3.8 


3.9 
4.3 


5.6 
6.0 


4.6 
3.6 




Septem Ijer 5-11 




September 12-18 


58 


8.5 


n.6 




16.1 


3.3 


4.7 


5.1 


3.8 




September 19-25 


;33 


A 7. 3 






8.5 


^6. 8 


M.8 


no. 4 


/6. 1 










Mean 


68.6 
164 


9.4 
16.4 


2.53 
9.9 


8.18 
14.9 


14.8 
37.6 


2.67 
6.8 


3.04 
7.2 


4.92 
10.4 


4.18 
7.2 


35.2 


Maximum 


103 


Minimum 


32 


4.7 


.62 


4.4 


6.6 


.8 


2.1 


1.7 


2.6 


10.8 



a June 7-12. 
b June 9-12. 
c June 21-26. 
d July 11-14. 



« August 11-14. 
/August 12-14. 
£? August 16-21. 
h September 5-12. 



i September 12-15. 
.;■ September 18-22. 
A: September 18-21. 
I September 19-20. 



COMPAEATIVE DISCHARGE OF DIFFEIRENT AKEAS. 



89 



Mean estimated weekly discharge, in second-feet, per square mile of streams in Yukon- 

Tanana region, 1908. 





Chata- 


Little 


Wash- 


Hutli- 


Mi nook 


Birch 
Creek 
at Four- 
teen- 
mile 
House 
(drain- 
age 
area 
2,150 




Chata- 


Little 






nika 


Chena 


ington 


nana 


Creek 




nika 


Chena 






River 


River 


Creek 


Creek 


above 




River 


River 






below 


below 


below 


below 


Little 




near 


above 






Poker 


Fish 


Aggie 


Cairo 


Minook 




Faith 


Elliott 




Date. 


Creek 


Creek 


Creek 


Creek 


Creek 


Mean. 


. Creek 


Creek 


Mean. 




(drain- 


(drain- 


(drain- 


(drain- 


(drain- 




(drain- 


(drain- 






age 


age 


age 


age 


age 




age 


age 






area 456 


area 228 


area 147 


area 130 


area 130 




area 132 


area 79 






square 


square 


square 


square 


square 




square 


square 






miles). 


miles). 


miles). 


miles). 


miles). 


miles). 




miles). 


miles). 




May 1-5 




3.84 


















May 6-12 




3.53 


5.51 








4.52 








May 13-19 


7.03 


5.10 


7.84 








6.66 








May 20-26 


6.61 


3.44 


3.57 








4.54 




4.29 




May 27- June 2 


4.34 


1.92 


2.35 




! 


2.87 




2.87 




June 3-9 


2.98 

2.52 

1.70 

.72 


1.69 

1.14 

1.10 

.83 


1.29 

1.31 

1.48 

.44 


1.67 
2.32 
1.57 

.82 


1.18 

1.05 

L30 

.68 


""'.'si" 


1.76 

1.67 

L43 

.67 




2.29 

2.18 

L49 

.98 




June 10-16 .... . . 




June 17-23 




June 24-30 




July 1-7 


.86 


.62 


.34 


.68 


.51 


.50 


.58 




.75 




July 8-14 


1.02 


.45 


.37 


.55 


.61 


.80 


.63 


.97 


.61 


.79 


July 15-21 


.61 
.45 


.33 
.31 


.23 
.19 


.48 
.38 


.38 

.28 


.46 
.40 


■.42 
.35 


.83 
.96 


.48 
.42 


.66 


July22-28 


.69 


July 29- August 4 


.59 


.32 


.20 


.28 


.27 


.40 


.36 


1.15 


.41 


.78 


August 5-11 


.46 


.29 


.19 


.27 


.26 


.45 


.32 


.76 


.39 


.58 


August 12-18 


.52 


.31 


.19 


.25 


.24 


.46 


.33 


.85 


.46 


.66 


August 19-25 


.88 


.43 


.21 


.24 


.26 


.54 


.43 


L55 


.75 


1.15 


August 26-Septeniber 1 . . 


.67 




.23 




.28 


.64 


.46 


L19 


, 




September 2-8 


1.63 




.55 




.73 


1.93 


L21 


2.66 






September 9-15 


.89 








.44 


.99 


.77 


1.33 






September 16-22 

September 23-29 

September 30-October 6. 


.92 








.48 


.66 


.69 


1.16 






.08 
.62 










.47 


.58 


1.15 


















October 7-13 


.45 
.45 




















October 14-21 

























1 ! 













Drainage areas of streams in interior of Alaska. 

Square miles. 

Fiftymile River at White Horse, Yukon Tc rritory 7, 630 

Yukon River at Dawson, Yukon Territory 115, 000 

Yukon River at Fort Yukon. . . : 177, 000 

Yukon River at Rampart 206, 000 

Yukon River at mouth 322, 000 

Fortymile Creek 3 miles below Fortymile telegraph station" 1, 620 

Fortymile Creek at mouth .• 6, 350 

Charley River at elevation 2,200 feet & 449 

Charley River at elevation 1,000 feet c 1, 470 

Charley River at mouth 1, 760 

Birch Creek at mouth 3, 090 

Preacher Creek at mouth 1, 100 

Beaver Creek at mouth 5, 360 

Tanana River at mouth 42, 000 

Salcha River at the Splits d 1, 290 

Salcha River at mouth 2, 150 



o 100 feet fall in 4 miles. 
& 400 feet fall in 9 miles. 



c 200 feet fall in 5 miles. 
d200 feet fall in 8 miles. 



90 WATER IN YUKON-TANANA EEGION, 1907-1908. 

HYDRAULIC DEVELOPMENT. 

DITCH AND PIPE LINES IN ALASKA. 

No ditch project of any considerable magnitude has yet been under- 
taken in the Yukon-Tanana region. About half a dozen short ditches 
haA^e been built on tributaries of Birch, Minook, Patterson, and Baker 
creeks, but none in the Fairbanks district have advanced beyond 
the stage of preliminary investigation. It is probable, however, that 
in the next few years large waterways will be constructed either for 
hydraulicking or, more likely, for generating hydro-electric power. 
Engineers contemplating such work in the interior of Alaska can 
consider with profit the experiences of ditch builders in Seward 
Peninsula where hundreds of miles of water conduits have been con- 
structed under a wide range of conditions. Henshaw^ has described 
construction methods and difficulties in the Nome and Kougarok 
region as follows: 

Ditches are usually built so as to follow the contour approximately with grades 
limiting the velocity to about 2 feet per second, which is as high as the material in 
this section will stand without scour. The ditches are therefore for the most part on 
slopes, and are constructed by making a cut from 12 to 18 inches deep to grade at the 
lower bank. This bank is then built up by material from the excavation. The 
slopes of the banks are from 1:1 to 1J:1, depending on the material. 

The work of constructing a ditch is usually divided into three classes — team work, 
pick-and-shovel work, and rock work. Teams may be used in handling dry soil that 
contains only medium-sized rock. This is the fastest method, and the compacting 
of the lower banks by the horses and scrapers makes it much tighter than when the 
dirt is thrown in loose. Pick and shovel are used in loose rock, in wet soil, and in 
frozen ground from which the top is removed as it thaws from the surface. Rock 
must be blasted, unless it is fissured limestone, which may be loosened with the crow- 
bar, or decomposed schist, which yields to the picks. In building through solid rock 
a shelf is blasted out about 1 foot below grade and wide enough to carry the ditch and 
the lower bank, which is built of rocks. The bottom and sides are lined with sod 
about 1 foot thick, and are puddled with clay. In rock slide the method is similar. 
A good example of this kind of construction was seen on the Grand Central branch 
of the Miocene system. The ditch was built through a pile of large bowlders, un- 
mixed with any soil or gravel. A trench was made 1 foot deeper and 2 feet wider 
than the finished ditch. The sides of the trench were lined with a slope wall, laid 
1 to 1, to a height of 4 or 5 feet. The outer slope of the lower bank was also rock wall, 
laid somewhat flatter. The ditch will be lined with sod and will be tight and 
permanent. 

The use of sod is very common and economical and saves much piping and fluming 
that would otherwise be necessary. The sod in a short time settles and knits together, 
and thus becomes a very serviceable bank. It will not cut or wear out, and the older 
it gets the better it becomes. In this way a ditch can be made over perpetually 
frozen ground where otherwise it would be impossible. Much ditch has to be con- 
structed over loose stones with little or no sediment between them. Such ditches 
must be lined with sod and all holes must be filled by tamping sod into them as far 
as possible. This being done, it will be found that the water traveling through the 

o Water-supply investigations in Alaska, 190(j-1907: Water-Supply Paper U. S. Geol. Survey No. 218, 
1908, p. 72, 



HYDRAULIC DEVELOPMENT. 91 

ditch will deposit sediment over the sod and that after a little while it will become 
tight. 

Canvas is also used as a lining to make a ditch water-tight. Willows with the tops 
left out, so that they may grow, are utilized in embankments with success. 

In construction over "glacier," which is the term used for frozen muck mixed with 
ground ice, the ditch is either built wholly on top of the sod covering or an excavation 
is made and lined with sod. Ditches over this material are expensive to maintain, 
owing to the thawing of the ice by the running water. 

One of the most interesting pieces of construction over glacier is the flume on the 
Miocene ditch. This flume is 1,100 feet long and has a width of 8 feet and a depth of 
28 inches. It was constructed in 1901, and is now in practically perfect alignment, 
both horizontal and vertical, and no repairs have been necessary on it. In putting in 
the foundation, trenches were dug 3 or 4 feet deep in the frozen ground, which was 
practically all ice. The excavated material was covered to protect it from thawing. 
A sill was laid in the bottom of the trench and the uprights fastened to this sill. The 
excavated material was then replaced in the trenches and froze again into the original 
condition. Sod was carefully placed over the trench. The uprights were then sawed 
off to grade and the flume constructed on them. 

Inverted siphons are built across deep ravines where their use will save expense 
and reduce loss by seepage. Most of these are riveted steel pipe. Joints are made by 
lapping the ends from 4 to 6 inches. Siphons must be weighted down and protected, 
by rock to prevent injury by frost and snowslides. During 1906 two siphons were 
built on the Seward ditch across Clara and Hobson creeks, continuous wood-stave 
pipes with steel bands being used. 

On account of the rapid surface run-off during hard rains, it is necessary to have 
waste gates at short intervals. The most common waste gates consist either of a flume 
as deep as the bottom of the ditch, in which the height of the water is regulated by 
flashboards, or of a long weir, laid on the ground surface, which will spill the water 
when it reaches a certain level. 

Ditch intakes consist of a dam or barrier across the stream, containing one or more 
waste gates, and head-gates for regulating the flow into the ditch. In order to divert 
the entire flow of a stream, a bed-rock dam must be built to stop the ground flow 
through the gravelly beds. Such a dam is made by cutting a trench across the stream 
bed, extending down to an impervious stratum, and filling it with sod, which is care- 
fully laid and tamped. The dam should be protected from erosion with large flat 
rocks or riprap. 

Frozen ground, inadequate facilities for transportation, and the high cost of help « 
and supplies make ditching very expensive. To the first cost of a ditch should be 
added the cost of maintenance for the first three years, during which time extensive 
repairs are necessary. On many ditches these repairs cost as much as the first con- 
struction. At the end of three years ditches are, as a rule, in fairly permanent condi- 
tion and the cost of maintenance is greatly reduced. Such information as could be 
obtained shows that the cost of a ditch carrying from 1,000 to 2,000 inches, including 
the first three years' maintenance, is from $5,000 to |10,000 per mile. Owing to dangers 
from washouts and landslides it is necessary to have the ditch constantly patrolled. 

Owing to the frozen condition of the ground it is not practicable to use ditches much 
before the 1st of July, as the surface does not become fully thawed until that time, 
and during the thawing period the ground becomes very soft and there is great danger 
of damage by washouts. 

The above discussion was written before Mr. Henshaw had visited the 
Fairhaven and Candle ditches in the Fairhaven district. The condi- 

o Laborers receive $5 per day and board; blacksmiths, etc., $6. 



92 WATER IN YUKOH-TAKANA REGIOK, 1907-1908. 

tions encountered on these waterways were much more difficult than in 
the country a hundred miles or so farther south; in fact, there is more 
difference between some of the ground in the Fairhaven precinct and 
the slopes of the Nome River Valley than between that of Nome 
Kiver and the unfrozen soil of temperate latitudes. The following 
are extracts from the descriptions of the Fairhaven and Candle 
ditches.'^ 

The [Fairhaven] ditch has a grade of 4.2 feet to the mile and was built 11 feet wide 
on the bottom, 1 foot in cut at the lower side, and with a 4-foot lower bank. The 
removal of 1 or 2 feet of the upper mOss and soil put the bottom of the ditch into 
ground ice and muck, much of the ice being fairly pure. This material thawed when 
the water was turned in and a large part of the bottom of the ditch has settled at least 
2 feet and has widened in many places to 15 or 20 feet, or more. As the upper bank 
thawed, the material was thrown against the lower bank to protect it and keep the 
water from getting under it. Practically the whole of the upper ditch, and at least 
three-fourths of the lower ditch, including all the upper 6 or 8 miles, is built in frozen 
ground of this character. Where the lower ditch is built around the steep gulches that 
carry the eastern tributaries of the Pinnell the northerly slopes of the gulches are covered 
with muck, but the southerly slopes are made up of a more solid clay and decomposed 
mica schist. Along the upper ditch lava bowlders are present in the muck from the 
surface to bed rock. At some places the material encountered was composed of angu- 
lar fragments of lava with little soil between them. Above and below Snow Gulch, 
the lowest tributary of Pinnell River which the ditch crosses, there are short pieces 
of rock work. The rock is much shattered and could have been loosened with picks 
if it had not been frozen. Much difficulty was experienced in making the rock work 
water-tight on account of the lack of good sod, as the surface covering is commonly 
decayed moss or peat containing much fibrous matter with little earthy material to 
give solidity and will generally float even though saturated with water 

The [Candle] ditch is 6 feet wide at the intake, increasing to 9 feet at the lower end. 
It has a grade of 3.7 feet to the mile, a capacity of 20 to 30 second-feet, and an eleva- 
tion at the penstock of 249 feet above Kiwalik River. A cut of 9 inches was made on 
the lower side; this gave a low ditch bank in places where the ground was solid, but 
in the frozen muck the ditch bottom has settled 1 to 2 feet. The material encoun- 
tered varied greatly. Near the upper end there were 2 miles of decomposed mica 
schist; below Burnside Creek there was some rocky ground with too little sediment 
to make the ditch tight without a great deal of work. Repair work in such places was 
difficult on account of the general lack of good sod. The portions of the ditch built 
over the muck gave the least trouble in building. A berm 1 foot wide was left on the 
lower bank between the cut and fill, and formed a protection for the inside of the bank 
when the bottom settled. 

FAIRBANKS DISTRICT. 

GENERAL CONDITIONS. 

. In the Fairbanks district mining has been carried on either by 
''open cuts" or by "drifting/' as best suits the local conditions. 
The upper portions of the creeks usually favor the ''open-cut" 
method, as the bed rock ranges only from 8 to 20 feet befow the sur- 
face. In the lower reaches, where the pay streak is 50 to 250 feet 
underground, with 25 to 200 feet of overburden, "drifting" seems 

oHenshaw, F. F., Mining in the Fairhaven precinct: Bull. U. S. Geol. Survey No. 379, 1909, pp. 
359,367. 



I 



HYDRAULIC DEVELOPMENT. 93 

the only solution. The work being underground, where protection 
from severe weather is assured, this portion of the camp is active in 
winter as well as in summer. The pay gravel is hoisted to the sur- 
face and dumped in large piles, where it awaits the spring break-up 
for sluicing, when high water follows the melting of the accumulated 
snow. (See PL III.) 

In the Fairbanks district little work has been done as yet toward 
constructing ditch lines from larger drainage areas for additional 
water supply. Present developments are confined to small ditches, 
which convey water to mines in their immediate vicinity on the 
creeks from which they draw their supply. The camp lies in three 
drainage basins, or valleys, separated by high dividing ridges, and 
in order to supply the producing creeks in one valley with water by 
ditch line from another the ditch must have a high elevation, which 
throws its intake so far into the headwaters that there is only a small 
drainage area from which to draw the supply. 

PROPOSED DITCH LINES. 

On account of its elevation, the upper Chatanika drainage basin 
has been more carefully considered as a possible source of water for 
a ditch line to the mining camps than any other drainage area within 
a reasonable distance of the Fairbanks district. The supply from 
this stream, however, would require more than 100 miles of ditch, 
difficult to construct and maintain, and would, by reason of its low 
head, benefit only a small number of producing creeks. 

Numerous surveys and reports have been made fa"voring the con- 
struction of ditch lines from this drainage basin. The first plan pro- 
posed a ditch along the left bank of the Chatanika that would deliver 
water to Pedro Dome at an elevation of about 1,800 feet, which 
would be necessary in order to supply water to Goldstream and Fair- 
banks creeks on the other side of the divide. The intake of such a 
ditch would have an elevation of about 2,000 feet, or 600 feet higher 
than the mouth of Faith and McManus creeks, where records of 
stream flow were kept during the seasons of 1907-8. The drainage 
area above this intake would be about 100 square miles, or about 25 
per cent less than at the point where measurements were made. The 
records kept during the season of 1907 prove conclusively that had 
the proposed ditch been built it would have had, instead of a daily 
supply of 125 second-feet, as was estimated, less than half that amount 
during the greater part of the open season. 

During 1907 surveys were made for a proposed ditch with an intake 
at the junction of Faith and McManus creeks. This ditch would 
deliver water to the camps at an elevation of about 1 ,200 feet — much 
too low to supply water outside of the Chatanika drainage basin. 
The tables on page 87 show the weekly supply that would have been 



94 WATER IN YUKON-TAN AN A REGION, 1907-1908. 

available for such a ditch during 1907-1908, and the tables on page 102 
show the number of days of deficient flow without storage and the 
amount of storage necessary to have maintained in the ditch a flow 
of 75, 100, or 125 second-feet, for the same period. 

WATER POWER. 

Power developments are possible in the Fairbanks district on sev- 
eral streams, as shown by records kept in the Chatanika and Little 
Chena drainage basins for two seasons, and on Washington Creek in 
the spring of 1908. 

If storage can be provided in the headwaters the Chatanika project 
is the most feasible. The table on page 100 shows the horsepower (80 
per cent efficiency) that could have been developed in 1907 from water 
supply of the Chatanika at the junction of Faith and McManus creeks 
and below Poker Creek. This table shows also the duration in days 
for different rates of flow. The tables on page 102 show the storage 
that would have been necessary for the maintenance of a daily flow 
of 100 second-feet near Faith Creek and of about 220 second-feet 
below Poker Creek, which would furnish 9.1 and 20 horsepower per 
foot of fall, respectively. 

By constructing a ditch for 12 or 15 miles along the Chatanika, 
diverting water from a point near the junction of Faith and McManus 
creeks, a head of about 400 feet could be obtained. A daily flow of 
100 second-feet under a 400-foot head would develop 3,640 horse- 
power on the turbines. The plant at Poker Creek would require 
about 8 miles of ditch, which would give a head of approximately 100 
feet and would develop 2,000 horsepower. The power from the upper 
plant could be transmitted to the lower and the combined develop- 
ment of, say, 5,600 horsepower, could be used for pumping water to 
the producing creeks. 

In the Little Chena drainage basin it is proposed to gather the 
water from the upper tributaries, at an elevation of about 900 feet, 
and convey it by ditch line to a point in the lower drainage area, on 
the right bank of the river, where a fall of nearly 200 feet can be 
obtained. A portion of the water so collected is to be used in devel- 
oping electric power for transmission to the producing creeks, and 
the excess water will be carried by ditch line to Smallwood and 
Nugget creeks and there used for mining. 

Washington Creek has also been considered as a source of power. 
During 1908 daily records were kept at the junction of Aggie Creek, 
below which there is a fall of approximately 200 feet in about 8 
miles, and topographic conditions are favorable for ditch-line con- 
struction. The records, however, indicate an insufficient supply 
of water for power development, but if storage could be provided it 
is possible that the minimum daily flow could be brought to a point 
which would warrant development. 



U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 



WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 228 PLATE VI 




A. HYDRAULICKING ON EAGLE CREEK. 




B. HYDRAULIC ELEVATOR ON HOOSIER CREEK. 



HYDEAULIC DEVELOPMENT. 95 

CIRCLE DISTRICT. 
GENERAL CONDITIONS. 

Most of the mining in the Birch Creek region, where bed rock hes 
only 10 to 20 feet below the surface, is carried on by the '^open-cut" 
method. The situation for hydraulicking is more favorable than is 
that in the Fairbanks or Rampart regions. The camps on Mammoth 
and Eagle creeks lie on streams of relatively high gradients. Conse- 
quently the water supply, though small, can be delivered to the 
mining property by comparatively short ditch lines, which give high 
heads for operating. 

Up to 1906 practically the only hydraulic development in this 
district was a small plant on North Fork of Harrison Creek, but 
this project proved a failure. However, considerable construction 
work was done in the Birch Creek region during 1908. 

EAGLE CREEK. 

The ditch started by Berry & Lamb in 1907 was finished in 1908. 
A short ditch taps Miller Fork of Eagle Creek about 1 mile above its 
mouth and carries the water around to a storage reservoir on Mas- 
todon Fork. From this point another small ditch carries the water 
about 2 miles along the left side of Eagle Creek to a pressure box, 
where a 210-foot head is obtained for hydraulicking. The water is 
conveyed to the mines through 4,200 feet of pipe line. This ditch 
was not completed until early in July, and the water from the spring 
break-up was therefore not utilized. The storage reservoir was not 
finished until the end of the season. 

The method employed at the Eagle Creek plant differs somewhat 
from the hydraulic methods usually practiced in Alaska. A channel 
was first ground sluiced along the bed of the creek, and in this the 
sluice boxes were set. On the side of the sluice box opposite the 
pipe line an iron back stop was erected. The plan is to elevate the 
auriferous gravels by use of water direct from the nozzles. This 
method requires at least two nozzles in operation at the same time — 
one to wash the gravel against the back stop, from which it falls 
into the sluice boxes, and the other to furnish at the head of the 
boxes water sufficient for sluicing. (See PL VI, A.) 

PORCUPINE CREEK. 

During the summer of 1908 Berry & Lamb constructed a portion 
of a ditch that, when completed, will be used for hydraulicking 
Mammoth Creek flats from the junction of Mastodon and Independ- 
ence creeks to the junction of Mammoth and Porcupine. The present 
ditch has its intake on Bonanza Creek at an elevation about 250 feet 
above the mouth, and follows along the right bank of Bonanza and 



96 WATER IN YUKON-TANANA REGION, 1907-1908. 

Porcupine creeks for about 6 miles, to a point opposite Miller House, 
where, during the winter of 1908-9, a hydraulic plant will be installed 
for operations next season. The ditch was built by the use of horses 
and scrapers, is 7 feet wide on the bottom, and has a grade of 5 feet 
to the mile. The operating head will be about 500 feet. It is pro- 
posed during the coming season to extend the intake around to 
Porcupine Creek and the outlet to the mouth of Mastodon Creek. 

RAMPART DISTRICT. 
GENERAL CONDITIONS. 

Mining in this district, like that in the Birch Creek region, is 
mostly by the '^ open-cut" method. On the Minook Creek side it 
is carried on by hydraulicking, by the use of hydraulic elevators 
(PL VI, B), and by splash dams (PL VII, B). In the Baker Creek 
group the water is used for ground stripping and washing the 
gravels that are shoveled to the sluice boxes. (See PL VII, A.) 

The water-supply situation is quite similar to that in the Fairbanks 
section. Most of the mines are located on small streams, and many 
of them are near the headwaters. There is in the vicinity of nearly 
every mine in the district sufficient water for pumping, but, even if 
the supply at the point of working is sufficient, it is not in position 
to be used under pressure, and to get sufficient head for hydraulick- 
ing or elevating, the water must either be pumped or diverted at 
such an elevation that the supply available is of necessity small 
because of the small drainage area above the diversion point. The 
larger streams have comparatively low gradients, and long conduits 
are therefore necessary to bring the water to a point where a working 
head can be obtained. Present data fail to show where any extensive 
system of ditch construction for carrying water to the mines is 
warranted. 

MINOOK CREEK GROUP. 

GENERAL CONDITIONS. 

The mines on Minook Creek- have a total supply of water larger 
than those on Baker Creek, but as iiiany are being worked by 
hydraulic methodsj they are perhaps no better off than their neighbors 
on the south side of the divide. Minook Creek has been considered 
as a possible source of supply for the mines on its lower tributaries, 
but from a careful study of the situation in connection with the 
results of stream measurements in this locality in 1908, it is evident 
that a ditch line which would carry -water to a sufficient elevation 
must have its diversion point very near the head of the creek, where 
the drainage area would be utterly inadequate to furnish a supply 
that would warrant the construction of 10 to 15 miles of ditch. In 



U. S. GEOLOGICAL SUaVEY 



WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 228 PLATE VII 





^lA' 










A. SHOVELING IN ON THANKSGIVING CREEK. 




B. SPLASH DAM IN OPERATION ON LITTLE MINOOK CREEK. 



HYDRAULIC DEVELOPMENT. 97 

this section, as elsewhere in the Yukon-Tanana region in 1908, the 
work was very much hampered by lack of water, and during July and 
August practically nothing was done. 

HUNTER CREEK. 

On Hunter Creek two hydraulic plants were in operation during 
1908. The plant on Discovery claim has 5,200 feet of riveted steel 
pipe, ranging in diameter from 20 to 14 inches, 2,300 feet of flume, and 
200 feet of ditch. The working head is 105 feet, and the delivery 
about 400 miner's inches. The plant on claim 17 above has 3,300 
feet of flume and 3,000 feet of ditch, an available head of 90 feet, 
and a dehvery of 300 inches. 

LITTLE MINOOK CREEK. 

On Little Minook Creek the overburden is removed by the action 
of automatic splash dams (PL VII, B) operating intermittently, 
the time interval depending upon the stage of the stream. A log 
retaining dam is constructed, in the center of which is a spillway 
closed by an automatic gate which revolves about a horizontal axis. 
The gate has a vertical dimension of 13 above to 6 below this axis, 
and an outward slope of 2§ inches to 1 foot. On reaching a certain 
height the water above the gate causes it to swing forward, allowing 
a sudden rush of water which is directed by means of wing dams 
against the material to be moved. When the water pressure is 
removed the gate closes and the process of filling and '' splashing" 
is repeated. It is by far the cheapest method of removing over- 
burden, and the small initial expense and amount of water required 
make it available where a hydraulic plant would be impossible. 
Three such dams were in operation on this creek during the summer 
of 1908. 

HOOSIER CREEK. 

On Hoosier Creek an hydraulic elevator was in operation a portion 
of the summer. About 2 miles of 22-inch pipe brought the water 
from the head of the creek to the elevator on claim 14 above. Here 
a 200-foot head operated a 12-inch elevator having a 16-foot lift 
(PI. V, B) and requiring about 17.5 second-feet of water for operating. 
Definite information is not at hand concerning the details of this 
plant, but it seemed to be in successful operation when the supply 
of water was adequate. 

BAKER CREEK GROUP. 

GENERAL CONDITIONS. 

The mines on the south side of the divide in the Rampart district 
are all comparatively shallow, as in the Minook and Birch Creek 
regions. ''Open-cut'' methods are followed, and the auriferous 

81007— iRR 228—09 7 



98 WATEK IN YUKON-TAN ANA REGION, 1907-1908. 

gravels are shoveled into the sluice boxes after the ground has been 
stripped by water. The benches on Pioneer and Thanksgiving 
creeks are the principal producers, but considerable preparatory 
work has been done on Eureka, Omega, Glen, and Sullivan creeks. 
The Baker Creek mines are less favorably situated than those of the 
Minook Creek group, owing to their southern exposure which allows 
the long hot days of spring to rapidly destroy the winter accumula- 
tion of ice and snow. They are also located on smaller streams and 
nearer the headwaters than most of the mines in the Rampart district. 
In 1907 Frank G. Manley, of Baker Hot Springs, completed a num- 
ber of small ditches to convey water for mining the bench gravels 
on Pioneer and Thanksgiving creeks. Several small ditches have 
been completed on Eureka, Glen, Gold Run, and Sullivan creeks. 
Owing to the scarcity of water, however, little work was accomplished 
during the past summer, except stripping ground to get mining 
property in shape for shoveling in. 

WHAT CHEER BAR DITCH. 

What Cheer Bar ditch taps Pioneer Creek near its headwaters, 
and carries water along the right bank for use on the benches along 
Pioneer Creek. The ditch is about 4 miles long, 5 feet wide, and has 
a grade of 5 feet to the mile. The water is used for ground stripping 
and for washing the gravels that are shoveled into the sluice boxes. 
For discharge measurements of this ditch, see page 79. 

EUREKA CKEEK. 

During 1908 Jerome Chute built a small ditch to operate on Eureka 
Creek above Pioneer Creek. Mr. Chute planned to make, during 
the winter of 1908-9, a thorough investigation of the possibilities of 
artesian wells on Eureka Creek. 

THANKSGIVING DITCH. 

Thanksgiving ditch taps New York and California creeks about 
one-half mile above their confluence and carries water to mining 
ground on Thanksgiving Creek. The ditch is 4 miles long, 5 feet 
wide, and has a grade of 6| feet to the mile. The water is used for 
ground stripping and for washing gravels shoveled into the sluice 
boxes. (See PL VII, B.) For discharge measurements of this ditch, 
see page 76. 

SULLIVAN CREEK DITCH. 

During the early part of the season of 1908 about 1 mile of ditch, 
having a capacity of approximately 10 second-feet, was constructed. 
This ditch is used to convey water for ''open-cut" work in Tufty 
Gulch near the mouth. Several other small ditches were under 
construction. 



HYDRAULIC DEVELOPMENT. 99 

WATER POWER FOR ELECTRIC TRANSMISSION. 

Throughout the entire Yukon-Tanana region mining in general 
has been carried on by means of the meager water supply from indi- 
vidual creeks and with very little consideration for methods of 
economy. Fortunately most of the ground that has been worked has 
been wonderfully rich, and the miner has been able to follow hap- 
hazard methods and still obtain a substantial profit. But the camps 
already demand a greater water supply than the local creeks can 
furnish, and in the near future the miner will have to work cheaper 
ground and will be forced to give the water-supply question most 
careful consideration. 

The situation of the present mining camps does not favor procuring 
an outside water supply by gravity. The region is part of a semiarid 
belt having an annual precipitation of 10 to 18 inches, and the topog- 
raphy of the country is such that ditch lines from the larger drainage 
areas, to which it is necessary to look for a supply commensurate with 
any reasonable development, are not altogether practical. Most of 
the larger streams are too far away or at too low an elevation to be 
used on the auriferous gravels. 

Pumping seems to offer the most feasible solution of the problem, 
and the question naturally arises as to the best methods of developing 
power for this purpose. Steam and water are the only ones worthy 
of consideration; but the cost of wood for steam power is at present 
excessive and is constantly increasing, and unless" coal is discovered 
at a place convenient for transmitting electricity to the mines through 
a central steam plant the development of water power for electric 
transmission to pumping plants seems more practical. This method 
of utilizing the water supply would dispense with many miles of ditch 
construction and would not only furnish the camp with water, but 
also with power for running the hoist, elevating the tailings, draining 
the mines, lighting the underground work, pumping water to the 
sluice box, and in some localities for running the dredge. 

The initial step in the location and development of a hydro-electric 
plant is the determination of daily flow and of the conditions affecting 
the flow of the stream or streams to be utilized. This is necessary 
in order to insure the maximum development of the low-water flow 
and to provide for storage or its equivalent, an auxiliar}^ steam plant, 
for use during extreme drought. The collection of such data is a 
part of the work undertaken by the Geological Survey, and in con- 
nection with projects for water-power development attention is called 
to the records of Chatanika and Little Chena rivers and Washington 
Creek. (See pp. 23-48.) From these records the following table 
has been prepared. 

a The coal deposits in the northern foothills of the Alaska Range south of Fairbanks may prove to be a 
valuable asset of the region. They are described by L. M. Prindle in Report on progress of investigations 
of mineral resources of Alaska in 1906: Bull. U. S. Geol. Survey No. 314, 1906, pp. 221-226. 



100 



WATER IN YUKON-TANANA REGION, 1907-1908. 



This table gives the horsepower , (80 per cent efficiency) per foot 
of fall that may be developed at different rates of discharge and 
shows the number of days on which the discharge and the corre- 
sponding horsepower were respectively less than the amounts given 
in the columns for '^discharge" and ''horsepower." 

Estimated discharge and horsepower table for Chatanika and Little Chena rivers, 1907-1908; 

Washington Creek, 1908. 





Horse- 
power, 80 
per cent 
efficiency 
per foot 
fall. 


Days of deficient discharge. 


Discharge 
(second-feet). 


Chatanika River 
near Faith Creek. 


Chatanika River 
below Poker Creek. 


Little Chena River 
and tributaries- 


Washing- 
ton Creek 
below 
Aggie 
Creek. 




June 16- 

Sept. 30, 

1907. 


July 13- 

Sept. 30, 

1908. 


1907. 


1908. 


July 22- 

Sept. 10, 

1907. 


Mayl- 

Aug. 27, 

1908. 


May 5- 

Sept. 4, 

1908. 


22 


2 

2.5 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 
12 
14 
16 
18 
20 








1 
1 







28. 








t 




3 


33 


19 
30 
40 
48 
56 
62 
69 
74 
78 
79 
83 










30 


44 










51 


55 











26 
31 
36 
44 
48 
55 
58 
60 
63 
67 


61 


66 








6' 

3 

7 

13 
15 
23 
35 
42 
45 
48 


66 


77 








68 


88 


2 
4 
19 
37 
57 
58 
65 
66 







72 


99 






75 


110 






76 


132 








154. 



5 

17 
27 






176 



5 

27 




198 




220 









It is evident from the above table that a certain amount of storage 
is necessary for economic development. (See tables on p. 102.) On 
Chatanika one storage would benefit two developments, the combined 
minimum power of which would be at least 5,000 horsepower. This 
could be used for pumping the ample supply at the mines (see p. 87) 
to an elevation sufficient for mining on the producing creeks tributary 
to the Chatanika and also for supplying other substations on Fair- 
banks and Golds tream creeks. 

The situation of several other streams in the Yukon-Tanana regions 
(see table, p. 89) seems to offer opportunities for the development of 
electric power for transmission to the mining camps, but unfortu- 
nately no records have been kept of the flow of these streams, and 
their drainage areas are so undeveloped that it is very difficult to 
prociu*e the desired information. The diagram in figure 3 shows con- 
siderable similarity in the run-off per square mile of drainage area 
of the streams for which records have been kept. This diagram and 
the accompanying table of drainage areas were specially prepared to 
guide the prospector or investor to the localities most favorable for 
power development. 



HYDRAULIC DEVELOPMENT. 101 

In the judgment of those who have observed the stream conditions 
in the Yukon-Tanana region for several years the run-off reached its 
lowest point in the season of 1908. The records obtained this year 
may therefore be considered especially conservative, and it seems 
probable that they would afford a safe basis for estimates of supplies 
available for ditch or other water-power development. 

STORAGE AND CONSERVATION. 

In the Yukon-Tanana region, where for six months in the year the 
streams are closed by ice and where, except for a surface thaw of 1 
to 3 feet during the summer months, the ground is frozen throughout 
the year from surface to bed rock — 10, 20, 30, and in many places 
more than 200 feet below — it is considered more practical to use the 
daily flow of a stream during the open season than to attempt to con- 
serve any excessive run-off; but the two-years' records indicate that 
commercial development of the region will necessitate the adoption 
of some means of conservation. 

During the low-water period, which invariably occurs in July and 
August, the inadequacy of the water supply of the local creeks forces 
many operators to discontinue work and the rest to resort to various 
schemes to provide water for sluicing. The method most commonly 
practiced — that of returning water to the sluice boxes for a second 
and even a third use — not only entails extra expense but furnishes 
an inferior quality of water for sluicing, as the large amount of silt 
which the water carries so increases its transporting powers that its 
efficiency in saving the lighter gold is greatly curtailed. 

Obviously these difficulties can be overcome only by obtaining an 
outside supply of water either by pumping or by gravity. The prob- 
lem of furnishing a supply adequate for the needs of the camps dur- 
ing the open season would seem less difficult if storage could be pro- 
vided for the run-off incident to the spring break-up. The computed 
discharge of streams in the Fairbanks district during the months of 
May and June and the diagram on page 85 give evidence that at this 
time of year water is abundant. As April and May are months of 
exceptionally slight precipitation — perhaps the smallest of all the 
year — the water must come from the melting of the snow and ice 
accumulated throughout the winter months. 

In the spring of 1908 water began to run in the mining creeks and 
the more open country from the 20tli to the 25th of April, and by the 
1st of May the larger streams were breaking up. If the resulting 
run-off of 3 to 5 second-feet per square mile during May and part of 
June could have been distributed throughout July and August, a sup- 
ply adequate for any reasonable development would have been at 
hand. If some practical plan for storing this excessive run-off could 



102 



WATER IN YUKON-TANANA REGION, 1907-1908. 



be suggested a number of projected developments in this region might 
be considered as commercial possibilities. 

The amounts of storage that would have been necessary to main- 
tain discharges of 75, 100, and 125 second-feet in a ditch diverting 
water from Chatanika River near Faith Creek and to maintain dis- 
charges of 28, 33, and 55 second-feet in a ditch on Washington Creek 
near Aggie Creek are given in the following tables, together with the 
number of days of deficient flow for the different ditch capacities: 

Storage table for Chatanika River near Faith Creek. 

1907. 



Capacity of 
ditch (sec- 
ond-feet. 


Days of de- 
ficient flow. 


Net storage required. 


Second-feet 
for 1 day. 


Acre-feet. 


75 
100 
125 


39 
54 
63 


794 
1.985 
3,424 


1.575 
3.937 
6,792 



1908. 



75 











100 


4 


46 


91 


125 


20 


508 


1,008 



Storage table for Washington Creek below Aggie Creek. 

1908. 



Capacity of 
ditch (sec- 
ond-feet). 


Days of de- 
ficient flow. 


Net storage required. 


Second-feet 
for 1 day. 


Acre-feet. 


28 
33 
55 


3 

30 
61 


7 

125 

1,247 


14 

248 

2,473 



The table for Chatanika River is based on records covering the 
periods from June 16 to September 30, 1907, and July 13 to Sep- 
tember 30, 1908. Storage provided at the head of the Chatanika 
might be used in connection with power development near Poker 
Creek, where the river has a fall of 100 feet in 8 miles. The mini- 
mum flow of 167 second-feet for five days in 1907 and of 192 second- 
feet for two days in 1908 indicates a possible development of at 
least 1,500 horsepower. The table for Washington Creek covers a 
period from May 5 to September 4, and undoubtedly represents 
a minimum condition. During this time there were days when the 
discharge of the streams exceeded the capacity of the proposed 
ditches. Had storage reservoirs been provided this excess of flow 



HYDEAULIC DEVELOPMENT. 103 

could have been conserved for use during a later low-water period. 
But the topographic maps of this section show no natural reser- 
voirs which could be used for storage purposes and indicate that, 
except near the headwaters of the Chatanika, the countr}^ is not 
adapted to artificial reservoirs. Even if natural conditions were 
more favorable, the high price for labor,^ the frozen ground, and 
the great depth to bed rock would make the construction of large 
dams nearly impossible. For these reasons it seems desirable to 
seek other means of storage. 

Contrary to the general impression, more or less water flows in 
nearly all streams of the Yukon-Tanana region during the entire win- 
ter. While traveling over this section of country in April, 1908, the 
writer noticed that large ^'winter glaciers" had invariably been 
formed where the channels of small streams had become clogged 
and dammed, ice 12, 15, or even 20 feet thick being a not uncom- 
mon sight. Following the line of least resistance, the water flows 
around and over the obstructions, freezes, and remains until the sum- 
mer heat melts it — as late as the 1st of July in sheltered spots. It 
occurred to the writer that some artificial method might be devised 
to bring about the formation of ^'winter glaciers" at the heads of 
streams proposed for development and that such a system would 
be of great value. Such artificial ^'winter glaciers," if protected 
from the sun by moss and brush, could be drawn upon for additional 
water supply during the low-water period. The method seems 
particularly applicable to most of the creeks on which records were 
kept. At the headwaters the creek bottoms are usually covered 
with a thick coat of willows, which would aid not only in the forma- 
tion of the '' winter glacier," but also in its protection. The matter 
seems worth considering, and the experiment would certainly be 
comparatively inexpensive. 

Present conditions not only indicate the need of artificial storage, 
but emphasize the necessity of protecting the natural storage agents — 
the forests and the prevailing moss covering. Many years of growth 
have produced but a scanty supply of timber of inferior grade and 
size, and even casual observation makes it e^ddent that, once 
destroyed, the forests can not be replaced in hundreds of years. 
Yet in many a camp the timber is being unnecessarily destroyed, 
apparently without any regard for the future. 

It is admitted that the natural development of the country demands 
the use of the available timber supply, but there can be no excuse 
for such indiscriminate burning of extensive timbered areas as has 
occurred in the prospecting stages in most of the camps. Besides 
destroying more timber than would supply all legitimate demands, 
these fires ruin the heavy moss, which is the one great storage agent 

a Five dollars per day and board for ordinary labor; mechanics, S7 to S8 per day and board. 



104 WATER IN YUKON-TAN ANA REGION, 1907-1908. 

of this region. In some localities this moss has been so badly burned 
that it no longer protects the frozen muck and ground ice from the 
summer sun, and the water is liberated so rapidly that the open 
season has hardly begun when the supply is practically exhausted. 
As a result a comparatively short period of no precipitation causes 
a water famine which might have been delayed had the moss remained 
to distribute the run-off in a more uniform manner and over a longer 
period. It was noted last spring that the streams first to start and 
quickest to discharge the storage from the accumulated snow were 
those in areas where the timber had been removed from the water- 
shed. The operators throughout the district generally concede that 
on the producing creeks the floods are greater, their duration shorter, 
and the low-water period lower and longer than when work was 
first started. 

The necessity for use of the timber supply is conceded, but it is 
evident that the future welfare of this country, as of older and 
more developed countries, demands the preservation of its forests 
because of their own especial uses and their influence on the develop- 
ment and conservation of other natural resources. 



INDEX. 



A. Page. 

Acknowledgments to those aiding 9 

Acre-foot, definition of 10 

Aggie Creek at — 
mouth: 

description 48 

discharge '. 48 

discharge, daily 48,86 

gage heights 48 

Albert Creek — 

discharge 56 

Allen Creek — 

description 73-74 

discharge .• 74 

Applegate Creek — 

discharge 83 

B. 

Baker Creek — 

description 73 

discharge 73 

Baker Creek, North Fork — 

discharge 83 

Baker Creek basin, description of 72-73 

stream-flow data in 73-84 

water power in 97-98 

Bear Creek — 

description 30 

discharge 30 

Beaver Creek- 
discharge 51 

Beaver Creek basin, description of 49-50 

stream-flow data in 50-51 

Belle Creek- 
discharge 41 

Birch Creek at — 

Fom-teenmile House: 

description 53 

discharge 53, 87, 89 

discharge, dailj- 53-54, 86 

gage heights 53-54 

Birch Creek (North Fork) — 

description 54-55 

discharge 55 

Birch Creek basin, description of 53 

stream-flow data in 53-59 

water power in 95-96 

Boston Creek — 

discharge 41 

Boulder Creek- 
description 58 

discharge 59 

Brigham Creek- 
discharge 51 

Bryan Creek — 

discharge 51 

Buckeye Creek — 

discharge 72 



C. 

Cache Creek — 

discharge 84 

California Creek at — 
Thanksgiving ditch: 

description 75 

discharge 75 

discharge, daily 75 

gage heights 75 

California Creek branch ditch near — 
intake: 

description 77 

discharge 77, 88 

discharge, daily 77-78, 86 

gage heights 77-78 

Caribou Creek — 

discharge 40 

Chapman Creek — 

description 64 

discharge 64 

Charity Creek — 

discharge 38 

Chatanika River near — 
Faith Creek.- 

description 33 

discharge 33,87,89 

discharge, daily 34, 86 

gage heights 34 

storage 102 

Murphy Creek: 

discharge 41 

Poker Creek: 

description 34 

discharge 35, 87, 89 

discharge, daily 35-36,86 

gage heights 35-36 

Chatanika River basin, description of 32-33 

discharge of 15, 87 

chart showing 17 

ditch building in 93 

water power in 9G, 100 

Circle district, description of 51-52 

gaging stations in 52 

location of, plate showing 52 

hydraulic development in 95-96 

stream-flow data in 53-59, 86, 88 

figure showing 85 

Cleary Creek — 

description 40 

discharge 40 

mining on, view of 40 

Climate, description of 14 

Conserv^ation, methods of 101-104 

Cooperation, acknowledgments for 9 

Crooked Creek (of Birch) — 

description 56 

discharge 56 

Crooked Creek (of Chatanika) — 

discharge 41 

105 



106 



INDEX. 



Page. 

Covert, C. C, work of 8 

Current meters, use of 11-12 



D. 



Data. See Stream-fliow data. 

Deadwood Creek — 

description 59 

discharge 59 

Definitions of terms used 9-11 

Ditch construction, difficulties in 7, 90-92 

methods of 90-91, 92 

progress in 90 

Dome Creek — 

description 41 

Drainage, description of 13-14 

E. 
Eagle Creek- 
discharge ■ 55 

hydraulicking on, view of 94 

water power 95 

Eldorado Creek — 

description 40-41 

Elephant Gulch — 

discharge 83 

Electric transmission, possibilities of 99, 101 

Elliott Creek near — 
Sorrels Creek: 

description 25 

discharge 25, 87 

discharge, daily 26, 86 

gage heights 26 

Ellsworth, C. E., work of 8 

Equivalents, table of 10 

Eureka Creek- 
description 78 

discharge 78 

water power 98 

F. 
Fairbanks Creek — 

description 30 

discharge 30 

Fairbanks district, description of 19-20 

gaging stations in 20-21 

location of, plate showing 20 

hydraulic development in 93-94 

mining in 92-93 

stream-flow data in 22-51, 86, 88 

figure showing 85 

water power in 94 

Faith Creek- 
description -. 38 

discharge 38 

discharge, daily 38, 86 

ditch from 93-94, 95 

Fiftymile River at— 
White Horse: 

description 84 

discharge 84 

Fires, damage from 103-104 

Fish Creek at or near — 
Fairbanks Creek: 

description 27-28 

discharge 28, 87 

discharge, daily 28, 80 

gage heights 28 



Page. 
Fish Creek at or near — Continued, 
mouth: 

description 29 

discharge 29 

discharge, daily 29, 86 

gage heights 29 

Flat Creek- 
discharge 41 

Floats, use of 11 

Fossil Creek- 
discharge 51 

Fox Creek- 
description 44 

Frozen ground, water from melting of . . 15-16 

G. 

Gage heights, readings of 12 

Gassaway, A. D., on flow of Chatanika River. 15 
Gofi Creek- 
discharge *. 83 

Gold, discovery and development of 12-13 

Coldstream Creek at — 
Claim 6: 

description 43 

discharge 43 

discharge, daily . .^ 43-<14 

gage heights 43-<4 

Coldstream Creek basin, description of..... 42-<3 

stream-flow data in 43-44 

Goose Creek — 

discharge 72 

Grand Central River, gaging on, view of 10 

Granite Creek — 

description 64. 

discharge 64 

H. 

Harrison Creek- 
description 55 

Henshaw, F. F., on ditch construction... 90-91,92 

Hoosier Creek- 
description 65 

discharge 65, 69, 88 

discharge, daily 66, 86 

gage heights 66 

hydraulic elevator on, view of 94 

water power on 97 

Hope Creek- 
discharge 38 

Hunter Creek — 

description 68 

discharge 68, 88 

discharge, daily 68, 86 

gage heights 68 

water power on 97 

Hutlinana Creek — 

description 80-81 

discharge 81, 83, 88, 89 

discharge, daily 82, 86 

gage heights 82 

Hydraulic developments, details of 90-101 

progress of 8 

I. 

Independence creek — 

discharge 57 



INDEX. 



107 



K. 
Kokomo Creek— Page. 

description 39 

discharge 39 

discharge, daily 39, 86 

gage heights 39 

L. 

Little Chena River near- 
Elliot Creek: 

description 23 

discharge , 23, 87, 89 

discharge, daily 24, 86 

gage heights 24 

Fish Creek: 

description 24 

discharge 24, 89 

discharge, daily 25, 86 

gage heights 25 

Little Chena River basin, description of 22-23 

discharge of 87 

chart showing 17 

stream flow data in 23-32 

water power in 94, 100 

Little Minook Creek — 

description .- 66-67, 69 

discharge 67, 88 

discharge, daily 67, 86 

gage heights 67 

splash dam on, view of 96 

water power 97 

Little Minook Junior Creek- 
description 66 

discharge 66 

Little Poker Creek — 

discharge 40 

Location of area 12-15 

map showing 13 

M. 
Mackay Creek — 

discharge 41 

McManus Creek — 

description 36-37 

discharge 37 

discharge, daily 37, 86 

ditch from 93-94, 95 

Mammoth Creek at — 
Miller House: 

description 56 

discharge 57, 87 

discharge, daily 57, 86 

gage heights 57 

Mastodon Creek — 

discharge 57 

Methods. See Stream measurement. 

Miller Creek (of Little Chena River) — 

description 30 

discharge 31, 32 

discharge, daily 31, 86 

gage heights 31 

Miller Creek (of Mammoth Creek) — 

discharge 57 

Miller Fork — 

discharge 55 

Miner's inch, definition of 10 

Minook Creek near — 
Chapman Creek: 

discharge 69 



Minook Creek near — Continued. 

Little Minook Creek: Page. 

description 63 

discharge " 63, 88, 89 

discharge, daily 63-64,86 

gage heights 63-64 

Minook Creek basin, description of 62-63 

stream-flow data in 63-69 

water power in 96-97 

Moose Creek — 

discharge 72 

Moss, injury to, by fire 104 

water stored by 16, 103 

Murphy Creek — 

discharge 41 

N. 
New York Creek — 

Thanksgiving ditch: 

description 74 

discharge 74, 83, 87 

discharge, daily 74-75, 86 

gage heights , 74-75 

Nome Creek — 

discharge 51 

O. 

Ohio Creek — 

discharge 83 

Ophir Creek — 

discharge 51 

P. 

Patterson Creek basin, description of 83 

stream-flow data in 84 

Pedro Creek — 

description 44 

Pioneer Creek — 

description 79 

discharge 79, 88 

discharge, daily 79-80, 86 

' gage heights 79-80 

Poker Creek — 

description 39 

discharge 39 

water power from 94 

Pool Creek — 

discharge 37 

Porcupine Creek near — 
Bonanza Creek: 

description 57-58 

discharge 58, 88 

discharge, dailj' 58, 86 

gage heights 58 

water power 95-96 

Power, electric transmission of 99-101 

Price meter, description of 11 

view of 10 

Prindle, L. M., on climate and vegetation ... 14 
Ptarmigan Fork — 

discharge 55 

Pumping, power for 99-100 

Q. 
Quail Creek — 

discharge 71 

Quartz Creek (of Crooked Creek)— 

discharge 56 

Quartz Creek (of Patterson Creek)— 

discharge 84 



108 



INDEX. 



R. 

Rainfall, records of 14, 16-19 

Rampart district, description of 59-01 

gaging stations in 61-62 

location of, map showing 60 

stream-flow data in 62-84, 86, 88 

figures showing 85 

water power in 96-98 

Roads, construction of 15 

Ruby Creek — 

description 65 

discharge 65 

Run-off, definition of 9 

Russian Creek- 
description 71 

discharge 71 

S. 

Second-foot, definition of 9 

Slate Creek — 

description 65 

discharge 65 

Smith Creek — 

discharge 37 

Sorrels Creek- 
description 26 

discharge 27, 87 

discharge, daily 27, 86 

gage heights 27 

Sourdough Creek- 
discharge 41 

Squaw Creek — 

description 71 

discharge 71 

Starvation Creek — 

discharge 72 

Storage, possibilities of 101-104 

Stream-flow data, explanation of 9-11 

value of 7 

Stream measurement, methods of 11-12 

Sullivan Creek — 

discharge 84 

water power 98 

T. 

Tanana River, description of 1 19 

Temperature, range of 14-15 

Thanksgiving ditch near — 
outlet: 

description 76 

discharge 76, 83, 88 

discharge, daily 76-77 

gage heights 70-77 

shoveling in on, view of 96 

water power. ; 98 



Page. 

Timber, destruction of 103-10 

Tolovana River, West Fork- 
discharge 72 

Tolovana River basin, description of 71-72 

stream-flow data in 72 

Trail Creek- 
discharge 51 

Transportation, means of 14-15, 60-61 

Troublesome Creek near- 
Quail Creek: 

description 70 

discharge 70, 71, 88 

discharge, daily 70, 86 

gage heights 70 

Troublesome Creek basin, description of 09-70 

stream-flow data in 70-71 

Twelvemile Creek- 
discharge 55 

V. 

Vegetation, description of 14, 20, 51-52, CO 

Velocity, measurement of 11-12 

W. 

Washington Creek near- 
Aggie Creek: 

description 45, 46-47 

discharge 45, 47, 89 

discharge, daily 45, 47, 86 

gage heights 45, 47 

storage 102 

Washington Creek basin, description of 45 

discharge of 87 

stream-flow data in 45-48 

water power in 94, 100 

Water power, details of 90-98 

transmission of 99-101 

Water supply, conditions of 15 

What Cheer Bar ditch- 
discharge 83 

water power 98 

Winter glaciers, water from, melting of 15, 103 

Wolverine Creek — 

discharge 83 

Woodchopper Creek — 

discharge 84 

Y. 

Yukon basin, stream-flow data in 71 

Yukon Tanana region, description of 12-15 

location of, map showing 13 

water of 15-19 

See also particular districts. 







t b 



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